Ohio Law Enters Into Impact Next Month, But Marijuana Not Available For Two Years

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Ohio’s medical cannabis law enters into effect on September 8, but patients shouldn’t expect to obtain cannabis treatment anytime quickly.

While the date is less than a month away, state regulators are only now working out the information of ways to control the treatment. Ohio authorities say many of the guidelines and requirements relating to medical marijuana still need to be composed and licenses need to be released prior to even one patient can get cannabis. Furthermore, cannabis plants still need to be cultivated, processed, checked, and distributed to dispensaries.

According to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program, the procedure to get the program fully functional will take at least 2 years. The agency estimates September 2018 will be the soonest a safe, effective medical marijuana product will be available to dispensaries.

Under the law, the Department of Commerce will be in charge of developing regulations for growers, processors, and screening centers. The Board of Pharmacy will produce the applications and figure out the costs for licensing of dispensaries as well as choose how many are allowed in the state.

As federal law still thinks about cannabis an illicit drug, medical professionals will be restricted from recommending medical marijuana. After a physician is certified by the State Medical Board of Ohio, the law enables them to “recommend” the drug for particular patients.

Medical marijuana will be offered to patients experiencing a number of dangerous and incapacitating diseases, consisting of AIDS, Alzheimer’s illness, cancer, Crohn’s disease, and epilepsy. Prior to treatment, a patient or caregiver need to be registered with Ohio.

To get Ohio’s medical marijuana program up and running, the state is looking for some professional aid. Anyone “with specialized market knowledge” can use for a task and “assist with the advancement of the guidelines and regulations affecting farmers of medical cannabis.”

The position pays $ 50,000 and includes studying the growing methods and treatments of other states where medical cannabis is legal. The chosen individual will also help develop requirements for marijuana businesses in Ohio. The person would likewise have to pass a pre-employment drug test.

While the state’s medical cannabis law enables patients to be treated with the drug, it also allows employers to end employees for marijuana use. If a company has actually a written drug-free work environment policy or other defined rules that restrict cannabis use, a staff member can be fired if found to be in infraction.

While the medical marijuana law has not officially taken effect, numerous neighborhoods in Ohio are making relocate to prevent marijuana business from opening up store in their area. Lakewood, a suburb of Cleveland, is amongst numerous other municipalities to put a six-month restriction on licenses connected to cannabis businesses. While the effort will likely not affect any businesses given that none will be accredited in the next six months, the prohibition is meant to give local authorities more time to decide if extra marijuana laws are needed.

“There’s a great deal of unknowns when this gets presented,” said Kent Scarrett, executive director of the Ohio Municipal League. “The state made this modification, however this modification is coming to our neighborhoods.”

Ohio is the 25th state to authorize marijuana for medical purposes. A handful of other states, including Arkansas and Missouri, will be voting to legalize medical marijuana in November.

News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Ohio Law Enters Into Impact Next Month, But Marijuana Not Available For Two Years
Author: Samantha Ross
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