Ohio Regulators receive $1.8 million to run Medical Marijuana Program

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on August 29, 2016.

Ohio became the 25th state in the United States to legalize medical marijuana in July, when the Republican Governor John Kasich signed the House Bill 523 into law. The law that legalizes certain types of medical marijuana in the state will come into effect in Sept.8. However, a lot of ground works need to be addressed before patients will be able to get their required medicine.

Meanwhile, two agencies-- the Department of Commerce and the Ohio Pharmacy Board are receiving over $1.8 million to run the state’s medical marijuana control program.

Out of the $1.8 million, the Department of Commerce will receive $923,077 to fund licensing of growers, processors and testing facilities and the Ohio Pharmacy Board will get $882,400 to use for updating the prescription reporting system, licensing of dispensaries and hiring staff as well as operating the Medical Marijuana Control Program.

Ohio Representative Dan Ramos, who announced the said funds on Monday, stated that home grown, or small production would not be allowed in the program. Those who want to take part in the medical marijuana program will have to “be in the business” of producing marijuana.

The Ohio Department of Commerce, State Medical Board and Board of Pharmacy will all play a key role in the marijuana program. The Commerce Department will oversee licensing of marijuana cultivators, processors and testing labs while the Pharmacy Board will license dispensaries and register patients and their caregivers, and set up a hotline to take questions from patients and caregivers. And, the Medical Board would issue certificates to physicians seeking to recommend treatment with medical marijuana.

The medical marijuana program in Ohio allows patients to use marijuana in vapor form for certain chronic health conditions, but prohibits them from smoking marijuana or growing it at home.

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