Medical Marijuana in Ohio became legal in 2016 w/ the passage of HB 523. The medical cannabis program cultivation and processing, as well as testing laboratories, are overseen by the Department of Commerce. The State Board of Pharmacy oversees the retail dispensaries. The Medical Marijuana Advisor Comity has been tasked with making recommendations for the program.
Medical Marijuana Program: Yes
Adult Use / Recreational MMJ: No
Pediatric: Yes
Home grow: No
Possession limit: Not yet specified
Reciprocity: No
Legislation: House Bill 523
Estimated # of registered patients: Unknown
Types of cannabis permitted for use: All
• September 8, 2016 – Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program Established
• May 6, 2017 – Cultivator Rules Adopted
• June 2017 – Application submission for Cultivator Licenses
o Level II Cultivator Applications: June 5, 2017 – June 16, 2017
o Level I Cultivator Applications: June 19, 2017 – June 30, 2017
• September 8, 2017 – Processor, Testing and Dispensary Rules Adopted
• September 8, 2017 – Patient/Caregiver and Physician Rules Adopted
• November 3 – 17, 2017 – Application submission for Dispensary Licenses
• December 4 – 15, 2017 – Application Submission for Processor Licenses
Cultivators (Level 1 & 2)
• 12 Level I cultivator licenses
• 12 Level II cultivator licenses
• Level I cultivators are permitted to operate an initial marijuana cultivation area up to 25,000 square feet. Level II cultivators are permitted to operate an initial marijuana cultivation area of 3,000 square feet. Licensees may submit an expansion request pursuant to the cultivator rules until September 8, 2018
Processor
The Department may issue up to 40 processor provisional licenses prior to September 9, 2018.
Dispensary
The State Board of Pharmacy may award up to 60 dispensary licenses
Testing
No Limit
The laboratory application fee is $2,000 and the certificate of operation fee is $18,000; a laboratory annual license renewal fee is $20,000.
The processor application fee is $10,000 and the certificate of operation fee is $90,000; a processor annual license renewal fee is $100,000
The cultivator licensing fees are non-refundable and are as follows: Level I Level II
Application fee $20,000 $2,000
Initial license fee $180,000 $18,000
Annual license renewal fee $200,000 $20,000
The dispensary application fee is $5,000 and the biennial certificate of operation fee is $70,000
More Details:
(A) An applicant for a license issued by the department or an applicant seeking employment with a licensee shall submit the following non-refundable application fees with the corresponding application:
(1) Level I cultivator application fee shall be $20000.
(2) Level II cultivator application fee shall be $2000.
(3) Processor application fee shall be $10000.
(4) Testing laboratory application fee shall be $2000.
(5) Employee identification card application fee shall be $100.
(B) An applicant that is awarded a provisional license by the department shall submit the following non-refundable fees at the time a certificate of operation is issued:
(1) Level I cultivator certificate of operation fee shall be $180,000
(2) Level II cultivator certificate of operation fee shall be $80000
(3) Processor certificate of operation fee shall be $90000.
(4) Testing laboratory certificate of operation fee shall be $18000
(C) A cultivator, processor, or testing laboratory awarded a certificate of operation by the department shall renew on an annual basis from the date the certificate of operation is issued and shall submit the following non-refundable fees:
(1) Level I cultivator certificate of operation renewal fee shall be $200000.
(2) Level II cultivator certificate of operation renewal fee shall be $20000
(3) Processor certificate of operation renewal fee shall be $100000
(4) Testing laboratory certificate of operation renewal fee shall be $20000
(D) An employee that is issued an identification card shall renew every two years from the date of issuance and shall submit a non-refundable fee of $100
(E) A cultivator, processor, or testing laboratory that is issued a certificate of operation shall submit the following non-refundable processing fee for a change in ownership or transfer to a new location:
(1) Cultivator processing fee shall be $1000
(2) Processor processing fee shall be $1000.
(3) Testing laboratory processing fee shall be $1000.
(F) A cultivator, processor, or testing laboratory that is issued a certificate of operation or a person possessing an employee identification card that is lost, stolen, destroyed, or otherwise misplaced shall submit the following replacement fees:
(1) Cultivator certificate of operation replacement fee shall be $100
(2) Processor certificate of operation replacement fee shall be $100
(3) Testing laboratory certificate of operation replacement fee shall be $100
(4) Employee identification card replacement fee shall be $10
(G) A level I cultivator that is issued a plant-only processor license shall submit a fee of $5,000. The renewal of a plant-only processor license for a level I cultivator shall be $5000.
(H) A level II cultivator that is issued a plant-only processor license shall submit a fee of $5,000. The renewal of a plant-only processor license for a level I cultivator shall be $5000
(I) A cultivator or processor shall register each medical marijuana product with the department and pay a registration fee in accordance with the rules promulgated by the state of Ohio board of pharmacy pursuant to Chapter 3796. of the Revised Code.
(J) A cultivator, processor, or testing laboratory shall submit an advertisement for approval prior to disseminating the advertisement with a fee of $100 for every advertisement.
(K) Any fees due and payable to the department shall be submitted in the form of a certified check or money order payable to the “Treasurer, State of Ohio,” or by such other means as approved by the department.
Dispensary
1. The following non-refundable licensing fees are as follows:
a. The application fee for a dispensary license is $5000. One application fee must be submitted with each application.
b. The certificate of operation fee is $70000. One certificate of operation fee must be submitted for each certificate of operation.
c. In addition to the certificate of operation fee, the fee to file an untimely certificate of operation renewal is $10000.
d. The application fee for a dispensary associated key employee is $500. This fee includes the associated key employee identification card.
e. The application fee for a dispensary key employee is $250.
f. This fee includes the key employee identification card.
g. The application fee for a dispensary support employee is $100.
h. This fee includes the support employee identification card.
i. The biennial renewal fee for a dispensary license is $70000.
j. The biennial renewal fee for a dispensary associated key employee card is $500.
k. The biennial renewal fee for a dispensary key employee card is $250
l. The biennial renewal fee for a dispensary support employee card is $100
m. The fee for a reissued dispensary certificate of operation or employee identification card is $50.
2. The following non-refundable, change in description fees are as follows:
a. The fee for a change in ownership is $5000.
b. The fee for a relocation is $5000.
c. The fee for a major modification or renovation is $5000.
3. The non-refundable advertising approval fee is $100 per advertisement.
4. All fees required under this rule shall be paid to the state board of pharmacy by check, or other method approved by the state board of pharmacy, made payable to the treasurer, state of Ohio.
• Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Cancer
• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Pain that is either of the following nature: (i) Chronic and severe; or (ii) Intractable
• Parkinson’s disease
• Positive status for HIV
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Sickle cell anemia
• Spinal cord disease or injury
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Traumatic brain injury
• Ulcerative colitis
1. Patients are required to obtain legitimate medical records or documentation from their primary care physician describing the diagnosis of their qualifying condition —
2. To qualify, a patient needs to be diagnosed by a physician as having one of the following debilitating medical conditions that is specifically identified in the law: Patients are required to obtain a signed Physician’s Statement from a physician, currently licensed to practice medicine in Ohio
3. Upon receiving a signed physician’s statement, all patients are required to register with the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program — registration is mandatory.
4. Please note: Details for submitting an application to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program are pending the establishment of the state program. Additionally, the Ohio Medical Marijuana Patient Registry application fee, is yet to be determined. Please be sure to visit our site frequently to get the most updated laws as it pertains to the Ohio medical marijuana program
• Use Your Card in Other States
• Possess a Sufficient Supply of Marijuana
• Access Marijuana Dispensaries
Currently not allowed in the state of Ohio.