This newsletter is distributed to physicians with an active Certificate to Recommend Medical Marijuana (CTR) and provides important updates for the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program (OMMCP). 

The State Medical Board of Ohio approved 5 new CTR applications since the January board meeting. As of February 10, 2021, the total number of active certified physicians is 683.

Medical Board Considers New Qualifying Conditions

The State Medical Board of Ohio received 30 petitions during the 2020 submission period. On February 10, the board’s Medical Marijuana Committee decided to move the petitions for Huntington’s disease, restless leg syndrome, spasticity and spasms, and terminal illness forward for expert review. The committee agreed that the petitions for autism and panic disorder with agoraphobia should also move forward for consideration. The board will serve as its own expert for these conditions due to the volume of scientific information presented in previous petition periods and the upcoming public comment period.

Written public comment on these conditions will be accepted

February 11– February 26, 2021. Anyone may submit their comments by emailing MedicalMarijuana@med.ohio.gov.

The Medical Marijuana Committee will then review the subject matter experts’ reports and make a recommendation to the full board for a vote to adopt/deny the petition to add the qualifying conditions. The board is expected to make a final decision this summer.

Click here to view more information about the petitions.

Physician Annual Report 

Ohio Revised Code 4731.30 and Ohio Administrative Code 4731-32-03 require each physician with a CTR to submit an annual report to the Medical Board. To collect the annual report data, the Medical Board will be sending a survey to all certified physicians. Each physician will be asked to give their professional opinion on the effectiveness of medical marijuana for the conditions for which it has been recommended. The board will send additional information about the survey in the coming weeks. Please be aware, completion of the survey is a statutory requirement for all physicians with a CTR. If the board does not receive your survey response as requested, you may be contacted directly.

State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy Updates 

Complete and Correct Patient/Caregiver Registrations

Per the Board of Pharmacy rules governing patient and caregiver registration, as well as the rule governing dispensations, patients in the Medical Marijuana Control Program are required to have a complete registration and recommendation – which includes the full name, (Ohio) residential address, and phone number – before a dispensary may sell medical marijuana to that patient. Likewise, caregiver registrations must include the caregiver’s address, telephone number, date of birth, and email address.

If a patient or caregiver does not have a phone number, they may include the phone number of a friend or family member who would be able to reach them if necessary. If a patient or caregiver uses an out-of-state form of identification, the physician must verify Ohio residency and include the Ohio address – not the out-of-state address – on the patient or caregiver registration.

Patient Information

Physicians are encouraged to be diligent about accurately entering patient and caregiver information into the Registry. If a patient/caregiver’s information is not accurately entered, the patient/caregiver may not receive the registration email or the patient/caregiver may be precluded from purchasing medical marijuana until the error is corrected. Patients must contact their recommending physician to correct any errors in their Registry information.

OARRS Information

As a reminder, please ensure that your OARRS information is up-to-date with accurate contact information. Dispensaries have reported issues contacting physicians because their phone number, email address, and/or other contact information was either missing or incorrect in the Registry.

To help inform physicians choosing to include instructions for use, the types of products currently available through the Medical Marijuana Control Program are listed below.