This past weekend was a bit of a media blitz for the marijuana industry in Ohio as newspapers, magazines, TV and radio sought information about Ohio's medical marijuana roll out.
Ohio Marijuana Card was right there to discuss the frustration the industry has had bringing product and official medical marijuana cards to patients, and to express why patients should not give up hope -- medical marijuana in Ohio is coming, sooner rather than later.
A deadline missed
Sadly, the September 8th, 2018 deadline for Ohio's medical marijuana industry has come and gone, but patients should not fret too much as a few key steps have been taken toward getting the industry fully operational. The holdup over these past few months has boiled down to legal woes, state restrictions and miles and miles of paperwork. But now that a lot of the hurdles have been jumped, things are starting to show promise.
Ohio Marijuana Card President Connor Shore discussed the delays with ABC22/Fox45. “It is frustrating that there is no product available but they should be hopeful because things are moving forward, there are plants in the ground, there are dispensaries that are getting ready to be operating,” Shore said. “It's happening and we're moving in the right direction. But I don't think people should lose hope or lose confidence in the program. because it will be available soon."
Cultivators, for example, are currently growing marijuana, with many eyeing this winter as their official harvest. Testers and processors have been granted provisional licensees and have started building or readying their facilities for operation.
The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy should activate the official patient registry within the next 30-90 days, depending on dispensary schedules, allowing patients who have already received their doctor recommendation to finally receive their cards. This registry was held up so patients who already have a recommendation would not seek product illegally. This registry should open roughly 60 days before the first dispensary opens. That way patients who have their recommendations will get their cards ahead of dispensaries opening.
Lastly, dispensaries are aiming to start opening by December. There should be nearly 60 dispensaries in total, though not every dispensary will be open this winter as some are still seeking state and city approval. The goal is to have all dispensaries open by the end of 2019.
The rush
At this point, it's something of a mad, mad rush for marijuana cultivators, processors and testers to get their product in front of Ohio's thousands of medical marijuana patients -- many of which are in dire need of marijuana to help with ailments like cancer, PTSD, chronic pain and HIV.
Dr. Tim Thress of Ohio Marijuana Card spoke with Dayton Daily News about the situation, expressing his frustration with the State over the delays. “People don’t realize how much people are suffering in this country,” he said. “And we are just putting off the treatment. It’s kind of sad how we are not thinking about the actual patients.”
Dr. Thress also spoke with WVXU in a thoughtful radio discussion. He was joined by Ohio Medical Marijuana License Holder Coalition Executive Director and Roetzel Consulting Solutions Assistant Director Alex Thomas; and with the Cincinnati Enquirer Health reporter Anne Saker and Development reporter Randy Tucker. Click here to give it a listen!
Should I get still my medical marijuana recommendation now?
Naturally, there’s already significant interest in medical marijuana in Ohio, especially now that the September 8th date has passed. For those unaware, new patients with one of the 21 qualifying conditions will need a medical marijuana recommendation from a state-certified medical marijuana doctor in order to register with the Board of Pharmacy as a medical marijuana patient. Once you have your recommendation, this is sent off to the Board of Pharmacy. Once their registry opens, patients who have been recommended for mmj will begin to be registered by the State.
It is highly recommended that you set your appointment quickly before dispensaries open and the medical marijuana operation is fully underway. Once dispensaries have opened, interest in Ohio marijuana will climb to extraordinary new heights, and patients could be looking delays in scheduling an appointment with a certified Ohio medical marijuana doctor.
Also, the more people who sign up for medical marijuana, the more likely the state will eventually re-examine its laws, possibly adding more medical conditions to the pre-approved list. Or they might consider softening some of the harsher restrictions, like the prohibition of smoking marijuana (cannabis flower and oils will still be available for vaping or ingestion, in addition to edibles, tinctures and creams).
We at Ohio Marijuana Card deeply believe that every patient who qualifies for medical marijuana in Ohio should be allowed to receive their recommendation quickly, and with as little hassle as possible. That’s why we’ve created a proven system for getting patients the medical marijuana recommendation they deserve.
Call us toll free at 1-866-457-5559, or click here, and schedule an appointment with one of our licensed medical marijuana doctors, available in every major city throughout Ohio. Our compassionate staff is here to walk you through the process of obtaining your medical marijuana card, from gathering your medical records to what to do after your doctor appointment. So sign up today and join Ohio’s growing medical marijuana movement!