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 8 new certificate to recommend medical marijuana (CTR) applications since the October board meeting. As of November 9, 2022, the total number of active certified physicians is 656.

Petition period now open for adding new medical marijuana qualifying conditions

The submission period is open from November 1 – December 31. Anyone may submit a petition requesting a condition be added to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program. If a condition has been previously rejected by the board, the new petition must contain new scientific information that supports the request. Details on the process can be found here.

Standard of Care

All physicians with an active CTR must follow the full list of requirements in Rule 4731-32-03 Standard of Care in the Ohio Administrative Code. 

Program Update (As of September 2022)

• 586,586 Recommendations
• 309,548 Registered patients
  • 19,144 Patients with Veteran Status
  • 20,446 Patients with Indigent Status
  • 1,194 Patients with a Terminal Diagnosis
• 161,690 Patients with both an active registration and an active recommendation
• 286,462 Unique patients who purchased medical marijuana (as reported to OARRS by licensed dispensaries)
• 31,768 Registered Caregivers

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 after the registration is created, you can resend the registration email by selecting the “Regenerate Registration Email” button at the User Account tab.

Abandoned Registration

Patients have 90 days from issuance of a recommendation to activate and complete their registration. A registration that is not activated within 90 days will be considered abandoned, and the patient/caregiver will no longer be able to activate their registration. In order to activate an abandoned registration, a patient will need their physician to terminate the existing unexpired recommendation, then issue a new recommendation.

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. 

• Capsule for Oral Administration = 290
• Edible for Oral Administration = 3,255
• Lotion/Cream for Topical Administration = 196
• Metered Oil or Solid for Vaporization = 7,712
• Oil for Oral Administration = 179
• Ointment for Topical Administration = 48
• All Plant Material for Vaporization = 12,803  
• Sublingual for Oral Administration = 45
• Tinctures for Oral Administration = 134
• Transdermal Patches = 138