A Guide to Saving Money on Medical Marijuana at
Ohio Dispensaries
One of the biggest complaints from medical marijuana card holders is the cost of medical marijuana. In a survey conducted by Ohio Marijuana Card, “Lower product prices at dispensaries” was the top response for aspects participants would change about the state’s program.
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Banks Risk Getting Penalized for Working With Marijuana Businesses
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Insurance Companies Don’t Generally Cover Marijuana
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Marijuana Business Expenses are Not Tax Deductible
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Application Cost for Licensing
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Supply and Demand - 3.5 Ounces Per Patient, Per Harvest
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Lack of Competition
Current prices are about half of what they were at the inception of the program.. When dispensaries first opened in 2019, the average cost of an ounce of medical marijuana flower was more than $500. Vape cartridges cost upwards of $120 for a half gram at the time.
It’s easy to see why patients balked at the price, and some decided to not bother with such a seemingly bougie product. These high prices from the early days of the Ohio medical marijuana program have contributed to a perception that medical marijuana is financially unattainable.
The good news is that the regular price of medical marijuana has dropped by half or more since 2019.
Although the price of cannabis is still high, it is expected to continue to go down. Cannabis has innumerable health benefits, which is why it has been approved as medicine in Ohio. The availability of hundreds of products in a variety of strains gives Ohio medical marijuana patients the opportunity to find products in the right form, with the right combination of cannabinoids and terpenes, to address their specific needs.
At your local dispensary, employees will assist you in finding the perfect strain, dosage, and ingestion method to meet your individual needs. Your treatment plan will be specifically tailed to you and based off your condition and symptoms. With medical marijuana, there is no "one size fits all" like there is with many other types of medication.
Medical marijuana may seem expensive when paying full retail prices. However, patients participating in the Ohio medical marijuana program can get discounts at cannabis dispensaries in a number of ways.
Finding Discounts at Ohio Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
If you’re vigilant about deals and specials, you will rarely have to pay full price for cannabis products in Ohio. Keep an eye on our Ohio Dispensary Prices page to find monthly updates on sales at dispensaries, patient education days, and marijuana product promotions.
Taking advantage of regularly-scheduled discounts can save you hundreds of dollars on medical marijuana products, providing natural relief for your body, mind, and your wallet too.
Medical Marijuana Discounts for Veterans and People Qualifying for Indigent Status
Most Ohio dispensaries offer veterans and those who qualify for indigent status a regular discount of up to 30% off the price of their medical marijuana purchase. If you are a US veteran or living solely on your SSI or Disability Income, visit our dispensary discounts page to learn more about how to register your Veteran or Indigent status with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy for medical marijuana discounts.
Once you are approved, you’ll get a discounted medical marijuana evaluation, as well as lowered prices at Ohio cannabis dispensaries.
Store Your Marijuana Products Properly
Storing your medicine properly will ensure that the product stays fresh until you use the last of it. Different forms will require different storage techniques, but it will be worth the extra effort when your medical marijuana is just as potent in the end as it was in the beginning.
Flower can dry out, and terpenes can dissipate quickly when exposed to too much air. It can also be subject to mold if there is too much moisture.
If you’ve got a little extra cash to spend, you might consider investing in a Cannador system that provides airtight storage with just the right level of humidity. However, simply making sure your marijuana flower is sealed in an airtight container that is kept in a cool, dark place, is sufficient in most cases.
Storing Vape Cartridges
Vape cartridges are easier to store because they are already sealed away from exposure to the air. The main thing to remember when storing your vape cart is that it should always remain upright and be kept out of light and extreme heat. Vape cartridges hold up in the cold, but they should not be frozen.
Storing Tinctures
Medical marijuana tinctures are the most shelf-stable of all the cannabis products out there. It can last for a year or more with little to no degradation. Simply keep it in the airtight container you purchased it in and you should be good to go. You can keep your tincture in the refrigerator if you prefer, but it generally isn’t necessary.
Storing Edibles
Making sure you store your medical marijuana edibles properly will make all the difference in maintaining potency until the last bite. Cannabis-infused cooking oils will last the longest out of any edible products, and you can freeze them for even longer storage.
Gummies and candies—like chocolates and mints—should be sealed away in an airtight container, out of light and in a cool place (but not the freezer). The same goes for baked goods, except with one caveat. They need to be eaten within a relatively short period of time to avoid mold or excessive drying.
Storing Concentrates and Extracts
A silicone container is sufficient for short term storage of cannabis concentrates. Just make sure it is kept away from high temperatures. You can also wrap your concentrate in parchment paper, place it in an airtight container, then seal that in an airtight bag. There are also techniques to freeze your concentrate, but you need to be careful to avoid moisture because condensation can ruin your dabs.
Avoid Building a Tolerance to Marijuana
When you use cannabis regularly, you might build up a tolerance to your medicine, meaning you need more of it to achieve the same results. This can get expensive quickly. If you find that your medical marijuana is not quite packing the same punch as it used to, try making some adjustments to your routine to help strengthen the effects.
Take the Smallest Dose You Need to Get Results
We tell all our patients to start low and go slow when it comes to using medical marijuana. To make sure you continue to see the same benefits from your medicine without building up a tolerance, always take the minimum amount you need in order to get the desired effects.
Consider Taking a T-break
A tolerance break from marijuana can make all the receptors that interact with cannabis even more receptive. Tolerance breaks don’t have to mean that you completely stop using medical marijuana. You may want to try simply reducing the amount of marijuana you use for a few days to a few weeks first. If you find that you are more sensitive to the effects of cannabis after cutting back for a while, you’re on the right track.
Switch Strains
One of the best things about the variety of medical marijuana available at dispensaries in Ohio is that everyone can find the strain that best suits their symptoms. However, using the same strain over and over again may hasten building a tolerance.
You can easily remedy this by using a different strain from time to time. Try finding strains that have a similar terpene profile to your favorite, in order to ensure you’re still getting relief from your symptoms. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find your next favorite medical marijuana strain when you try something new!
Try a Different Form
Different medical marijuana forms work in different ways within the body. If marijuana flower just isn’t doing it for you anymore, maybe it’s time to give edibles a try.
Buy in Bulk When the Price is Right
You can usually find deals at dispensaries where the more you buy, the more you save. Though there are limits on how much medical marijuana you can buy at one time, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for these specials and make your purchases when the price is right.
For example, many dispensaries offer add-ons, meaning you can get a significant discount on certain items after spending a specified amount. Other times, you may find that a medical marijuana brand is discounted at gradually-increasing percentages the more you spend.
AVB: You Can Still Get Medicinal Value Out of Your Already Vaped Buds
AVB, or already vaped buds still have medicinal value. You can get the most out of your medical marijuana by repurposing your AVB and using it in a different form. In order to reduce the pungent odor and flavor of AVB, we recommend water curing.
Keep in mind that since many of the terpenes and cannabinoids have been vaporized already, the effects of your AVB will be different, and likely milder, than the effects of fresh buds.
Check out this Guide to Using AVB on our blog for instructions on how to properly water cure your already vaped bud. Once you’ve completed this process, your AVB is ready to use in a variety of ways:
Cannabis-Infused Coffee and Tea
It’s easy to infuse your coffee and tea with AVB. Simply sprinkle your water-cured AVB into the filter with your coffee grounds before you brew, or mix it into your favorite tea leaves before steeping.
AVB Tinctures
An AVB tincture is easy to make! Simply place your desired amount of AVB in a mason jar, and cover with high-proof drinking alcohol like Everclear. Don’t use isopropyl alcohol, since this is not intended for consumption.
Shake the jar vigorously for a minute or so, and repeat daily. Make sure you store it with the lid closed tightly, and your tincture should be ready within one to three weeks.
Cannabutter and Cannaoil
You can use AVB to make cannabutter and cannaoil the same way you would use fresh buds, except you’ll want to skip the decarboxylation process. When your cannabutter or cannaoil are ready, you can use them in baked goods like brownies, salad dressings and more!
Just Eat It!
This might be a novelty experience that you just try once, but you can always sprinkle your AVB onto your food and eat it that way. Mix it into your morning oatmeal, soups, smoothies or anything else you’re curious to try.
This might be a novelty experience that you just try once, but you can always sprinkle your AVB onto your food and eat it that way. Mix it into your morning oatmeal, soups, smoothies or anything else you’re curious to try.
Marijuana Flower: Short-Term Relief for Mild to Moderate Symptoms
Best for:
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Migraines
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Appetite stimulant
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Panic attacks associated with PTSD and other mental health conditions
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Nausea associated with cancer, cachexia and other digestive problems
Medical marijuana flower is generally the most robust form when it comes to the entourage effect. Minimal processing preserves delicate terpenes, and using a dry vape device with multiple temperature settings can help enhance your experience.
However, the effects of inhaled marijuana forms wear off faster than other forms like edibles and tinctures. This means that you will need to use more product in order to maintain symptom relief on a consistent basis.
Vape Cartridges: Short-Term Relief for Moderate to Severe Symptoms
Best for:
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Migraines
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Appetite stimulant
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Panic attacks associated with PTSD and other mental health conditions
The cannabis oils found in medical marijuana vape cartridges are more processed and therefore lose some of the terpenes found in dry flower. However, they generally have a higher concentration of cannabinoids than most flower products at dispensaries. This makes them ideal for addressing more severe symptoms.
Additionally, live resin cartridges have been processed in a way that preserves more natural components of the marijuana plant. Using a vape device that has multiple temperature settings will help you get the most out of your cart, regardless of whether you are using live resin or other types of vape oil cartridges.
Extracts/Concentrates: Short-Term to Medium-Term Relief for Severe Symptoms
Best for:
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Migraines
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Severe chronic pain
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Severe spasticity
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Appetite stimulant
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Severe panic attacks associated with PTSD and other mental health conditions
Medical marijuana extracts come in several different forms, including budder, shatter, sugar, pearls and sauce, and RSO (Rick Simpson Oil). The THC concentration in extracts is generally very high, and they offer powerful relief to medical marijuana patients with the most severe symptoms.
Medical Marijuana Tinctures: Medium-Term Relief for Mild to Moderate Symptoms
Best for:
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Chronic pain that has a constant level of severity
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Persistent anxiety related to PTSD and other mental health conditions
Medical marijuana tinctures are a favorite among patients who need more consistent relief throughout the day. They often come with THC:CBD concentrations that maximize therapeutic benefits while minimizing impairment.
Tinctures, when taken sublingually, absorb directly into the bloodstream through the thin tissue under the tongue. Their effects start to kick in within 20 minutes to an hour, and they generally last between two and six hours.
Tinctures are an excellent choice for people living with chronic nausea who prefer not to inhale marijuana into their lungs. Because the active compounds are absorbed under the tongue, rather than through the digestive system as with edibles, they cause minimal to no stomach irritation.
Cannabis-Infused Edibles: Long-Term Relief for Mild to Severe Symptoms
Best for:
Edibles come in a variety of dosage options and many edible products currently available at Ohio dispensaries have a balance of cannabinoids and terpenes that can help minimize unwanted side effects.
Medical Marijuana Topicals: Short to Long-Term Relief for Mild to Moderate Symptoms
Best For:
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Localized chronic pain related to arthritis and other inflammatory conditions
Medical marijuana topicals are an excellent option for patients looking to treat their chronic pain conditions without the intoxicating effects. Topicals come in a variety of forms, including lotions and balms for quick relief, and patches for stronger, long-term relief.
Ohio Marijuana Card is working to help you get the natural relief you deserve without breaking the bank. We offer frequent discounts on medical marijuana cards, in addition to discounts for veterans and those who qualify for indigent status; our dispensary prices page includes the latest dispensary discounts and is updated monthly; and we provide resources to help you understand how to make the most of your medical marijuana purchases.
If you don’t yet have your medical marijuana card in Ohio, there’s no better time than the present to start your natural wellness journey! Give our patient support team a call at (866) 457-5559 to get all your questions answered, or simply make an appointment to see an Ohio medical marijuana doctor online today!
In addition to extensive discounts and resources, we offer unlimited free marijuana doctor follow-up appointments for the 12 months following your evaluation, and you’ll get a refund on the cost of your appointment if you don’t qualify.
Check out How to Get and Ohio Marijuana Card for the list of qualifying conditions and what to expect at your evaluation appointment, and keep an eye on our blog for all the latest information on Ohio medical marijuana.