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 has approved 2 new certificate to recommend medical marijuana (CTR) applications since the September board meeting. As of October 13, 2021, the total number of active certified physicians is 637.

Submitting Petitions for New Qualifying Conditions  

The next submission period is scheduled for Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, 2021. Anyone may submit a petition requesting a condition be added to the OMMCP. If a condition has been previously rejected by the board, the new petition must contain new scientific information that supports the request. No submissions will be accepted before November 1. Details on the process can be found here. 

Ohio Administrative Code 4731-32-03 and Ohio Revised Code 4731.30 require an in-person visit to make an initial recommendation and an in-person examination at least once a year.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Medical Board suspended enforcement of regulations that required in-person visits, until the expiration of Executive Order 2020-01D. This allowed the use of telemedicine in situations that previously required in-person visits, including for physicians with a CTR to use telemedicine for initial visits and renewals.

In June, the board voted to resume enforcement of the regulation on September 17, 2021, three months after the lifting of the state declaration of emergency. However, on August 11 the board voted to extend the suspension of regulation for in-person visits until December 31, 2021, to ensure accessibility and safety for patients during this time. 

The Medical Board approved telemedicine FAQs that provide guidance on telemedicine in Ohio and the Medical Board’s resumption of enforcement. Click here to view the FAQs.

Program Update (As of August 30, 2021)

• 344,301 Recommendations
• 209,133 Registered patients
  • 14,290 Patients with Veteran Status
  • 15,817 Patients with Indigent Status
  • 888 Patients with a Terminal Diagnosis
• 127,282 Patients with both an active registration and an active recommendation
• 190,639 Unique patients who purchased medical marijuana (as reported to OARRS by licensed dispensaries)
• 24,835 Registered Caregivers

Topic: Mandatory Product Recall

Issue: The Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program (MMCP) is issuing a mandatory product recall on manufactured products sold to dispensaries by processor, Certified Cultivators, LLC. This recall is being initiated by the MMCP because the manufactured products did not receive the full battery of required testing prior to being sold at dispensaries. The recalled products were not tested for heavy metals, pesticides, residual solvents, and mycotoxins. The MMCP is investigating this matter and will issue an executive summary at the conclusion of the investigation.

Affected Product:

Purchased from the following dispensaries:

About Wellness - Lebanon

Bloom Medicinals - Akron

Bloom Medicinals - Columbus

Bloom Medicinals - Painesville

Bloom Medicinals - Seven Mile

Columbia Care - Dayton

Columbia Care - Logan

Columbia Care - Marietta

Columbia Care - Monroe

Strawberry Fields - Columbus

Sunnyside - Cincinnati

Sunnyside - Marion

Terrasana - Columbus

Terrasana - Garfield Heights

Verdant Creations - Columbus

Verilife - Cincinnati

Verilife - Hillsboro

Verilife - Wapakoneta

Zen Leaf - Cincinnati

Zen Leaf - Dayton

No reports of adverse reactions for this product have been reported to the MMCP at this time.

Patients who have purchased the recalled product should stop using it. All unused product should be returned to the dispensary where purchased. Returned products will not count toward a patient’s 90-day possession limit. For more information on returns, please contact the dispensary where the product was purchased.

Anyone who thinks that they may be experiencing serious or life-threatening issues should seek immediate medical attention. Patients are reminded that any adverse reactions should be reported to the MMCP toll-free helpline

(1-833-464-6627).

State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy Updates

Email Address Reminder

When registering patients and caregivers, please be sure to enter their email addresses correctly. Any error in the email address can cause significant delay in the registration process, as the activation link will not be sent to the correct inbox. If you correct an email address, you must notify the Registry support team at MMCPRegistry@pharmacy.ohio.gov so the activation link can be re-sent to the correct inbox.

Special Status Reminder

When registering a patient with indigent or veteran status, please make sure the patient submits acceptable proof documents to the Board of Pharmacy for approval. Documentation may be emailed to MMCPRegistry@pharmacy.ohio.gov or mailed to:

State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy

MMCP Patient Registry

77 S. High Street, 17th Floor

Columbus, OH 43215

Patient Renewal

Patients seeking to renew their medical marijuana registration will not receive another “activation” email upon receipt of their new recommendation. Once a new recommendation is submitted by the physician, the patient can log into the Patient & Caregiver Registry to remit their annual registration fee to renew their card. Patients who need assistance logging into their Registry account due to a lost password should go to www.ohiomedicalmarijuanaregistry.com and select “Reset Password” at the sign-in page.

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.