Talk to your Physician

You must be diagnosed with a qualifying condition, and be seen by a physician who’s certified to recommend.

If you have already been diagnosed with a qualifying condition, find out if your doctor is certified to recommend medical marijuana. If they do not have a Certificate to Recommend, you’ll need to obtain your medical records stating your qualifying condition and see a recommending physician.

If you haven’t already been diagnosed with a qualifying condition, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider; they may be able to give you a qualifying condition diagnosis that’ll make it easy for another physician with a Certificate to Recommend to write you a recommendation.

To find a recommending physician visit the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program’s Physician Page

Get Registered

Your recommending physician creates your account in the patient registry. Once that has been completed, you’ll receive an email link to complete your application. Patients will pay an annual $50 fee, and Caregivers an annual fee of $25. Patients who qualify for indigent or veteran status may be eligible for additional fee reductions.

Acceptable Forms of ID:

• Unexpired Ohio driver’s license

•Unexpired Ohio identification card issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles

• Unexpired United States passport or United States passport card

This state or government-issued ID is tied to your medical card and is required every time you visit a dispensary. All patients are required to have a government-issued identification, including minors.

Visit Our Dispensary

After your fee has been paid, your card can be downloaded and saved on a smartphone or printed. Bring your medical card and the same state government-issued identification card used to obtain your medical card with you to gain access to any dispensary in the state of Ohio.

Becoming a Caregiver

If you know someone who is unable to physically go to a medical marijuana dispensary, you may apply to be a licensed caregiver (and serve as a caregiver for up to two patients.)

Caregivers are essential to medical marijuana treatment programs for those suffering from terminal illnesses and are legally able to assist patients in administering their medication.

To become a caregiver, you must be over 21 years of age. Visit your family or friend’s recommending physician with a valid photo ID and the required $25 fee to submit your caregiver application.

Keeping Your Registration Active

Beginning 90 days prior to expiration, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy will email you with instructions on how to renew your registration. Your recommendation is valid for 1 year. Make sure to talk to your physician before it expires to make sure you don’t have to lapse in coverage.

Caregivers will also receive emails for reminders of their patient’s registration expiration.

Patients who have one of the following medical marijuana conditions may currently participate in Ohio’s medical marijuana program:

• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

• Alzheimer’s Disease

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Cachexia

• Cancer

• Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

• Chron’s Disease

• Epilepsy or another seizure disorder

• Fibromyalgia

• Glaucoma

• Hepatitis C

• HIV

• Huntington’s Disease

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBS)

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

• Pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable

• Parkinson’s Disease

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Sickle Cell Anemia

• Spasticity

• Spinal Cord Disease or Injury

• Terminal Illness

• Tourette’s Syndrome

• Traumatic Brain Injury

• Ulcerative Colitis

Chemical components of cannabis, called cannabinoids activate specific receptors found throughout the body and brain to produce pharmacological effects.

Consider the cannabinoids to be the true medicine.

There are 86 cannabinoids that have been identified, each with varying degrees of medical benefits and psychoactivity. These minor cannabinoids play an important role in the therapeutic effects received from cannabis as medicine.

• Cannabidiol (CBD) :

Non-Psychoactive

• Delta-9- Tetrahydrocannaabinol : Psychoactive

• Cannabigerol (CBG) :

Non-Psychoactive

• Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCa): Non-psychoactive until decarboxylation (exposure to heat) which converts this cannabinoid to Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol

• Cannabinol (CBN) : May have psychoactive effects, although not as strong as THC

• Cannabichromene (CBC) :

Non-Psychoactive

• Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDa) :

Non-Psychoactive

Understanding Names

Ultimately, how cannabis affects each patient is user specific. These classifications are generalizations based on genetics and terpene content. A Ratio team member and your recommending physician can work closely with you to best determine which products will meet your specific needs and work best for you.

Sativa

Typically produces a cerebral (head) sensation. Usually used for daytime medicating. Sativa dominant strains traditionally have higher concentrations of the terpenes pinene and/ or limonene.

Indica

Typically produces a full body sensation. Usually used for nighttime medicating. Indica dominant strains traditionally have higher concentrations of the terpene mycrene.

Hybrid

A mix between Sativa and Indica strains, which usually produces an even balance of head and body sensations. Typically used for either daytime or nighttime.

Ohio’s Weight and Measurements

In Ohio, medical marijuana prodcuts are each associated with common units of measure called “whole day units” , each patient ‘s recommendation is divided into 90-day supplies, which are then split into two 45-day fill-periods.

Each time a patient visits a dispensary, the dispensary staff will check the Patient Registry (by scanning their patient ID and photo ID) to determine how much the patient has purchased in their current fill period, and calculate the remaining “Days” they have available for purchase.

*Click this here to see the chart of the exact amount of Product Quantity vs. the whole day units for each.

Terpenes (or terpenoids) are aromatic compounds produced in the flower and leaves of the cannabis plant.

Terpenes are the primary elements of the essential oils in medical cannabis. They’re responsible for the plant’s unmistakable flavor and aroma.

Terpenes are produced by trichomes, the tiny crystal-like hairs on the cannabis flower, and each strain of cannabis has a unique terpene profile.

Patients can embrace the phenomenon of cannabinoids and terpenes interacting synergistically - aim to pick products that have robust, natural terpene profiles. Every medical cannabis strain has varying percentages of terpene content.

Like CBD, terpenes can alter the psychoactive effect of THC. This ability to mitigate the mental high may mean that terpenes can actually enhance the medicinal effects of THC.

Most Common Types of Terpenes

Terpenes are an integral aspect of cannabis as a plant and medicine. More research is needed to understand the potential beneficial effects of terpenes.

These compounds define the flavor and aroma, but may also alter the effects of medical cannabis.

Learn how to use terpenes to your benefit by experimenting with different strains and terpene profiles.

Click this link to view the most common types of terpenes.

“Start low, and go slow”

There are many ways to administer medical cannabis, and patients may find that one method is more effective than another for their specific needs.

Your recommending physician may specify a particular delivery method that’ll work best for your symptoms, or recommend a variety of methods depending on your unique needs.

Flower

How it works: Cannabis flower is the most original form of consumption of cannabis. Inhaling flower “through a handheld or desktop vaporizer, cannabinoids enter your bloodstream through your lungs.

Helpful tips: When vaping cannabis flower, you’re accessing the full benefits of whole plant medicine, as cannabinoids and terpenes are activated at different temperatures.

Activation time: Fast acting, within seconds of inhalation.

Duration of the effects: Approximately 1 to 3 hours.

Things to remember: Store your medicine in its original child-proof packaging with the product label.

The effects vary with each method, sometimes affecting the length of time it takes for the medicine to take effect, or the length of time that it remains effective. Each patient should find which manner is best for them with the help of their recommending physician and the workers at Ratio.

Vaporizer

How it works: Vaping cannabis is a smokeless form of inhalation. The cannabis is heated, not burned. The lack of tar or byproducts of combustion in cannabis vapor means it typically doesn’t irritate the lungs.

Helpful tips: These are innovative, portable, and discreet products on the market that offer the benefits of plant medicine at the tips of your fingers- with a push of a button.

Ohio vape pens and cartridges must be dose-able, meaning they will shut off at the end of a “dose”. See the product label for details.

Activation time: Within seconds of inhalation.

Duration of the effects: Approximately 1 to 3 hours.

Things to remember: Vaporizer cartridges should be stored upright and not lying down.

Edibles:

How it works: Ingesting cannabis through infused snacks, mints, drinks, and capsules.

Helpful tips: The onset is much longer than other methods, and the effects are much stronger. Start slow, with a low dose or a single serving until you know how it will affect you. Experimentation is key.

Activation time: Anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on what type of edible you ingest and how your body metabolizes cannabis. Wait before increasing your dose.

Duration of the effects: Anywhere from 1 hour up to 6 hours.

Things to remember: Don’t mix with alcohol or other controlled substances. Keep away from children and pets. Store your medicine in its original child-proof packaging.

Suggested Dosages:

New consumer: 1-5mg.

Occasional consumer: 5-10 mg.

Frequent consumer: 10-15 mg.

Concentrates

How it works: Consuming concentrates refers to heating a minimal amount of cannabis concentrate and inhaling the vapor. These types of products contain concentrated amounts of terpenes and cannabinoids- resulting in a potent product with minimal waste material. Types of concentrates include live resin, rosin, and wax.

Helpful tips: There are specific vaporizers that are meant to be used with concentrates.

Activation time: Immediately after inhalation.

Duration of the effects: Up to 12 hours.

Things to remember: Vaporizer cartridges should be stored upright and not lying down.

Tinctures

How it works: You ingest cannabis orally by placing the tincture under your tongue. They’re concentrated forms of cannabis in an alcohol or oil-based solution.

Helpful tips: Consuming orally allows the product to be absorbed through the mucosal surfaces of your mouth and throat. This makes for a quick and highly effective consumption method.

Activation time: 15 to 30 minutes.

Duration of the effects: Similar to vaping, up to 3 hours.

Things to remember: When a tincture is placed under your tongue, it’s absorbed rapidly and immediately enters the bloodstream. If you swallow the tincture, it’ll break down in the digestive system, leading to delayed effects similar to an edible.

Topicals

How it works: Cannabis-infused lotions, balms, salves, or transdermal patches are applied directly to the skin in areas that are painful or tense.

Helpful tips: Topicals are a great solution for people who don’t want to get high but can benefit from the medical properties of cannabis, with little to no psychoactive effects.

The cannabinoids are lipophilic and can easily be carried through the skin, delivering local relief.

Activation time: Anywhere from a few minutes to 1 hour.

Duration of the effects: Depends on the medium. A balm can last for around 1 hour, whereas a transdermal patch can provide up to 12 hours of relief with a slow, controlled release.

Things to remember: If the topical includes THC, avoid areas of the groin or underarms. Wash hands after every use.

Using medical marijuana can impair your ability to drive, operate machinery, or perform any activity that requires you to be alert. Before you use medical marijuana, it’s important to talk with your doctor about any medical conditions you have. You should also talk to your doctor about your history of drug and alcohol use if you have it.

In a minimal number of cases, medical marijuana can cause the following side effects:

• Red Eyes

• Dizziness

• Change in mood

•Increased appetite

• Lethargy

• Trouble thinking and solving problems

• Slower reaction time

• Urinary retention

• Impaired judgement

• Lack of coordination

• Slurred speech

• Difficulty concentrating

More serious causes of side effects include:

• Depression

• Increased heart rate

• Feelings of anxiety or paranoia

• Problems with memory and learning

Consult with your doctor if you start to experience any of these side effects. If you have more serious side effects, stop using medical marijuana and call your recommending physician and/or the MMCP hotline at 1-833-464-6627

Certain Drugs that are Known to Interact with Medical Marijuana:

Drugs that suppress the central nervous system, such as barbiturates, benzodiazepines, opioids, muscle relaxants, and antihistamines, could interact with medical marijuana. These drugs are used to treat seizures, pain, depression, cough and colds, sleep problems, and anxiety.

Using medical marijuana while taking these medications could intensify their effects on the central nervous system and cause increased drowsiness.

Marijuana targets areas of the brain involved in memory and concentration, and can affect movement, coordination, and reaction time. These effects can increase dramatically if you combine marijuana with alcohol.

Amphetamines may worsen high blood pressure, increase heart rate, and damage the heart muscle.

Click HERE to view the information all Patients are required to receive after purchasing medical marijuana in Ohio.

Signs of substance abuse and addiction can vary from person to person. If you are concerned that you or a loved one may be addicted to marijuana, please consult your physician or a local substance abuse program or drug hotline.

If your products no longer have an effect on you, reset your CB1 and CB2 receptors by stopping for 1-2 days and return to your normal medicating schedule.

Common Signs of Substance Abuse:

• Tolerance

• Feeling withdrawal symptoms

• Loss of control over use

• Smoking despite the consequences

• Not able to cut down

• Ignoring consequences and actions

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is pleased to provide the online resource for locating drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs:

www.samhsa.gov

To report any adverse reaction, you may call MMCP Helpline:

1-833-464-6627

Legal issues surrounding medical marijuana are very complex since different laws and guidelines exist at federal, state, and local levels. It’s your responsibility as a patient to know the laws in your area and to abide by them. Know your rights.

• Medical marijuana products must be stored in their original unaltered packaging until administration.

• Medical marijuana patients must have their ID cards on them at all times when in possession of medical marijuana products.

• Only registered medical marijuana patients and caregivers can possess medical marijuana, which is not to exceed a 90-day supply.

• The statements made in this packet haven’t been reviewed or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

• Discontinue or reduce dosage if effects are too strong.

• Cannabis may remain detectable in bodily fluids and hair for several months and well after intoxicating effects have subsided.

What is HIPAA?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge.

HIPAA and Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Program

HIPAA establishes policies and procedures for maintaining the privacy and the security of individually identifiable health information, confidentiality, etc.

As with all medical organizations in Ohio, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy follows all HIPAA rules to protect and keep medical marijuana patient information secure and confidential.

Learn more about HIPAA at the CDC website.