Ohio Marijuana Laws Marijuana Laws

Whether you’re traveling through the Buckeye State or are planning on moving there, it’s important to understand Ohio marijuana laws if you’re a fan of the potent green plant. 

From medical marijuana cards to newly passed recreational laws, there’s a lot to know about Ohio marijuana laws and regulations — so let’s dive in. 

Is Medical Marijuana Legal in Ohio? 

Yes, thankfully, medical marijuana is legal in Ohio. 

On June 8th, 2016, Governor John Kasich signed House Bill 523, which made Ohio the 25th state to legalize medical marijuana. 

House Bill 523 created the state’s Medical Marijuana Control Program, allowing qualified patients to purchase and use medical marijuana after they have obtained a physician recommendation from a qualified marijuana doctor in Ohio. 

On the one hand, the Department of Commerce is in charge of licensing and regulating medical marijuana cultivators, processors, and testing laboratories.

On the other hand, the Board of Pharmacy is in charge of licensing dispensaries and the patient and caregiver registry.

In addition, the Medical Board is in charge of the list of qualifying conditions and certifying Ohio marijuana doctors. 

It took a while for the Ohio marijuana program to take off, but it is now up and running. According to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program, there are 293,579 registered patients and 30,676 caregivers as of July 31st, 2022.

 As of August 8th, 2022, the state has recorded $963.9 million in product sales.  

Is Recreational Marijuana Legal in Ohio?

For a long time, Ohioans were torn when it came to the issue of recreational marijuana. But, as of November 7, 2023, Ohio officially became the 24th state to legalize adult-use cannabis. 

So, yes, marijuana is legal in Ohio for recreational use — finally! 

Ohio recreational marijuana laws currently state that adults will be able to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis at a time, as well as have six plants in the household (or 12 if there are two legal adults). 

However, it’s important to establish that you can start buying recreational cannabis in Ohio as of December 2023. 

It’s also important to understand that, like other states, recreational cannabis in Ohio is going to be subject to a much higher tax rate than medical cannabis. 

This new law says that recreational cannabis will be subject to an additional 10% sales tax — this is a tax that medical marijuana cardholders simply don’t have to pay. 

Are Edibles Legal in Ohio?

Edibles are legal in Ohio. To buy edibles, you must be 21 or older and have proof of residency. If you’re buying edibles, keep in mind you can not purchase more than 15 grams of extracts or edibles. 

How Much THC is Legal in Ohio?

The marijuana possession limit defines the Ohio THC limit. 

Registered medical patients can possess up to a 90-day supply. This 90-day limit works out to: 

• Eight ounces of tier 1 cannabis
• Five and three-tenths ounces of Tier 2 cannabis
• Twenty-six and fifty-five-hundredths grams of THC content in transdermal patches and other topicals
• Nine and nine-tenths grams of THC content in oils, tinctures, capsules, or edibles
• Fifty-three and one-tenths grams of THC content in vaporizable cannabis

These figures may sound confusing, but that shouldn’t bother you because dispensaries know how much marijuana they can sell to you and will help you understand the limits. 

When it comes to recreational possession limits, adults are allowed to have up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and up to 15 grams of cannabis extract. 

Ohio Marijuana Laws

What are the Ohio marijuana laws, and why do they matter? Red says stop; green says go. To safely buy and use marijuana in Ohio without breaking the law, you must know the reds and greens.

Knowledge of the law will help you avoid weed charges in Ohio. We’ve discussed some of the Ohio marijuana laws below, but you can find more of them here.  

Who Qualifies for Medical Marijuana in Ohio?

Ohio residents with a qualifying condition and a physician recommendation can apply for a medical marijuana card. There’s no minimum age limit, but minors aged 18 and below must have a caregiver. 

You can read all about the Ohio caregiver process here. 

What are the Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana in Ohio?

Ohio qualifying conditions include:

• AIDS
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)  
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cachexia
• Cancer
• Chronic, severe, or intractable pain
• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy or another seizure disorder
• Fibromyalgia
• Glaucoma 
• Hepatitis C
• HIV  
• Huntington’s disease  
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBS)
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Sickle cell anemia
• Spasticity
• Spinal cord disease or injury
• Terminal illness
• Tourette syndrome
• Traumatic brain injury
• Ulcerative colitis

 The State Medical Board reviews the list of qualifying conditions each year, and you can petition them to add a condition to the list.  

Does My Ohio Medical Marijuana Card Offer Legal Protection?

According to Ohio marijuana law, registered patients and caregivers are protected from arrest, prosecution, and discrimination. Also, patients are free from discrimination in social or public services like organ transplants or housing. 

Let’s say you have a valid medical marijuana card, but your workplace has a drug-free policy, can your employer fire you for using marijuana? The state does not require employers to accommodate marijuana use on their premises, so if there’s a drug-free policy at your workplace, it’s best to adhere to it. 

 In addition, your Ohio marijuana card does not protect you from DUI prosecution; driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal even if you’re a registered patient. Police can cite you for DUI if they believe you’re impaired or if the marijuana in your system is over the legal limit. 

A first DUI offense is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by a minimum of 3 days consecutive imprisonment and a maximum of 6 months imprisonment. The alternative punishment is attendance in a driver’s intervention program for 3 days and a $375 minimum fine.   

Can I Get Health Insurance for Medical Marijuana?

The state does not require government medical programs and private health insurers to cover the costs of marijuana use. For more information and clarity, speak with your insurer.  

Can I Smoke Marijuana in Public in Ohio? 

No, public consumption of cannabis is illegal in Ohio. Even though recreational cannabis is now legal, you cannot consume your products anywhere but in private spaces.  

Does Ohio Have Marijuana Reciprocity?

No, Ohio does not currently recognize MMJ cards from other states. However, Ohio marijuana law requires the Board of Pharmacy to negotiate reciprocity with other states, so the law could change to allow reciprocity.  

Is Marijuana Cultivation Legal in Ohio?

Since medical marijuana is legal, can you grow weed in Ohio?

Yes, you can! Both medical marijuana patients and adult-use consumers can grow weed at home in Ohio thanks to the newly passed law. 

Right now, the cultivation laws state that adults can cultivate six plants in their home. Each home can have no more than 12 plants total, if there are two adults in the house who wish to cultivate. 

Recreational Weed is Now Legal in Ohio — Why Get a Medical Card? 

A lot of people think that getting a medical marijuana card is superfluous when recreational cannabis is legal. But this couldn’t be further from the truth! 

Medical marijuana cardholders gain access to benefits that recreational cannabis consumers simply never will. One of the biggest benefits? Lower prices on your weed. 

Recreational cannabis consumers will be subject to an additional 10% sales tax on every purchase at the dispensary; this is not a fee that medical cardholders have to pay. 

It’s also quite common for dispensaries to offer medical-only discounts to MMJ cardholders once they start serving both medical and recreational patients. Other perks like delivery and priority service tend to come with being a cardholder, as well. 

After all, the key difference between recreational and medical marijuana is how they are sold to users. When making that choice, don’t forget that regulations in Ohio differ based on whether the marijuana is medical or recreational. 

Finally, it’s important to note that recreational sales in Ohio are going to take some time. This process is not quick, and dispensaries aren’t suddenly able to sell to adults simply because a law was passed.

So, if you want to gain access to high-quality, affordable weed right now, getting your Ohio medical marijuana card is the best route to take. 

Where to Get a Legal Medical Marijuana Card in Ohio

You’re ready for your Ohio medical marijuana card, but where do you go to get one?

With Elevate Holistics, you can get your Ohio medical marijuana card in three simple steps, all from the comfort of your home. 

By booking an appointment with us, you will have an online appointment with an MMJ doctor who will work with you to get your medical card recommendation in under an hour. 

And once you’ve been approved, we can help you with the state registration process, too. We really do make it that simple.

Making mistakes during your application process can hinder getting your card. Hence, we’ve explained everything you need to know about where and how to get an Ohio medical marijuana card here. 

Elevate Holistics is Here to Help 

Legal and regulatory intricacies dot the marijuana landscape. That’s exactly why you need an expert to help you make sense of it all and guide you towards satisfactory choices.

At Elevate Holistics, we put our clients at the center of everything we do and provide the best cannabis service. 

We can help you set up an appointment with a qualified marijuana doctor who will be happy to evaluate you and answer your questions.

What’s more? We can also help you get your MMJ card in three easy steps. Book an appointment now!