How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Ohio?

Getting a medical marijuana card in Ohio is easy as marijuana enjoys a legal medical status in the state. Back in June 2016, House Bill 523 was approved in the legislature which legalized the medical use of cannabis in Ohio. Though the bill was signed in 2016, it took a significant time for the bill to actually get fully operational and the first licensed sale of medical marijuana was noted in January 2019.

Since then, getting an MMJ card has been easier. If your medical condition certifies for any of the 21 qualifying Ohio medical marijuana conditions, you can apply for an Ohio MMIC card. If you’re wondering how to get a medical marijuana card in Ohio, we have got you covered. We have explained the whole process extensively in our blog. Keep on reading to know more. 

Do You Qualify for an Ohio Medical Marijuana Card?

Not every person can have access to medical cannabis. Below is the basic criteria to qualify for an Ohio medical marijuana card:

• You should be at least 18 years of age or older 
• If you are a minor, you should have a adult caregiver and a doctor’s recommendation 
• You should be a legal resident of Ohio with a residential proof
• You should be diagnosed with one of the qualifying conditions
• You should have a recommendation letter signed by a licensed MMJ doctor or a physician. 

Qualifying Conditions to Get an MMJ Card in Ohio 

Qualifying conditions to get a medical marijuana card can vary from state to state. Here are the qualifying conditions stated by the Ohio medical marijuana county program: 

•  AIDS/HIV
•  Alzheimer’s disease
•  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
•  Cancer
• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy (or other seizure disorder)
• Fibromyalgia
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Sickle cell anemia
• Spinal cord disease or injury
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Traumatic brain injury
• Ulcerative colitis
• Any other health condition that affects an individual’s ability to perform daily-tasks. 

A Three-Step Process to Get an Online Medical Marijuana Card in Ohio

Getting a medical marijuana card in Ohio is just a three-step process: 

• Visit a licensed doctor and get a recommendation
• Apply for your MMIC card 
• Find a dispensary and buy medical cannabis

For your better understanding, the steps are explained in detail below. Read on. 

Consult a Licensed Doctor and Get an MMJ Recommendation Letter

The first and foremost step is to consult a licensed medical marijuana doctor or a physician and get 420 evaluations in order to receive a medical marijuana recommendation letter. You can either visit a doctor physically or get evaluated online via video chat. A bunch of online medical card clinics are available where you just have to register yourself and the clinic will connect you to a cannabis doctor. 

The doctor will evaluate your medical condition and decide whether you require cannabis treatment or not. Upon approval, you will receive your MMJ recommendation letter. An MMJ rec is basically evidence that you have the permission of a licensed doctor to take cannabis and you can use the letter to buy different marijuana products from a dispensary.

Apply for Your Medical Marijuana Card 

Half of your work is already done when you have an MMJ recommendation letter or MMJ certificate. With a rec, you can further apply for an MMIC card (medical marijuana identification card). An MMIC card is a plastic card issued to you by the state health department which you can use to buy legal cannabis from any dispensary.

Although both an MMJ recommendation letter and an MMIC card are used by medical cannabis patients, getting an MMIC card gives you a few of the additional advantages. Some of the dispensaries only accept an MMIC card and not an MMJ letter. So, registering for an MMIC card becomes important. 

Now, the process is simple. 

• The doctor who provided you with the recommendation letter will submit the patient registration form to the Ohio Board of Pharmacy on your behalf within 90 days of providing the certificate. 
• After the successful form submission, you will get an email to log into your Patient Registry account. Here, you will pay the application fee to the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. You will also be paying a handsome amount to the doctor for evaluation. 
• Once your application is verified, the board will take around two weeks to send your MMIC card. 

Find a Dispensary 

Now that you have finally receive your medical marijuana identification card, you need to find a licensed dispensary and show your card to buy different cannabis products. 

What Are the Benefits of Getting an MMIC Card? 

Below are the benefits of having an MMIC card: 

• Higher possession limit for medical cannabis 
• Access to quality and more potent products 
• Protects you from legal ramifications 
• Can have higher growing limits depending on the medical condition ( a person can even acquire grower’s license) 
• An MMJ card holder gets exemption from heavy taxes on cannabis products and also gets good discounts. 

Benefits sometimes vary from state to state. Make sure you check with your state’s updated marijuana laws in order to get the right information. 

Final Thoughts 

Following the growing legalization trend of both medical and recreational cannabis, getting a medical marijuana card has become easy. One with a debilitating medical condition can seek legal cannabis treatment with the approval of a licensed doctor. More and more patients are turning towards medical marijuana as a potential modern treatment which is both effective and convenient. If you are diagnosed with any severe medical condition and conventional treatments are not helping you, and you think cannabis can help, then consult your primary doctor and seek help.