Getting the card
What is the first step to get an Ohio medical marijuana card?
Book a visit with a physician who holds a Certificate to Recommend. In Ohio, the physician enters your recommendation and creates your account in the Patient and Caregiver Registry. You then sign in and activate it. You cannot start the file yourself. The step-by-step checklist lists the documents to bring.
Who can recommend medical marijuana in Ohio?
Only MDs and DOs with a full, unrestricted Ohio license and an active Certificate to Recommend from the State Medical Board of Ohio. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants cannot. The DCC counted 484 CTR physicians on October 14, 2026.
Can I get evaluated online?
Yes. OAC 4731-32-03, effective February 29, 2024, allows the physician-patient relationship to be established in person or through telehealth, and the yearly visit can also be by telemedicine. See how online evaluations work in Ohio.
Is anxiety a qualifying condition in Ohio?
No. Neither is insomnia or depression. Ohio's list has 26 conditions, and post-traumatic stress disorder is the only mental health diagnosis on it. The qualifying conditions table has the full list and the November 1 to December 31 petition window.
Do I have to be an Ohio resident?
Yes. Patients and caregivers must be Ohio residents. An Ohio BMV driver's license or ID card is the usual proof; the DCC also accepts certain other IDs plus two documents showing an Ohio street address.
Money
How much does the card cost?
The state charges $0 to activate or renew a patient or caregiver registration. The fee used to be $50 for patients and $25 for caregivers; the DCC cut it to $0.01 on March 4, 2024, and its FAQ now lists no cost. You still pay the physician, and the state does not set that price. Our cost page and calculator help you run the numbers.
Do patients pay the 10% cannabis tax?
No. Medical purchases are exempt from the 10% excise charged on adult-use sales. We could not confirm from an official source how sales tax applies to medical purchases.
Keeping the card
How long does an Ohio card last?
One year. It expires one year after issue, on the last day of the month it was issued. The DCC sends a renewal notice 45 days before, and you can renew from 30 days before, after getting a new recommendation. The renewal guide has the calendar.
What if my card expires?
Dispose of any medical cannabis within 7 calendar days. You can still renew once your physician issues a new recommendation.
Using it
Can I smoke medical marijuana in Ohio?
No. ORC 3796.06 prohibits smoking or combustion of medical marijuana. You may vaporize it only on private residential or agricultural property, and patients under 18 may not vaporize at all. More on the Ohio patient rules page.
How much can I buy?
Up to 2.5 oz of plant material and 15,000 mg of total THC in other products per day. Patients can buy up to four days' worth in one transaction, and possession is capped at a 90-day supply.
Can my employer fire me for using medical marijuana?
Yes. ORC 3796.28 lets employers refuse to hire, fire or discipline for marijuana use, medical included, and keep drug-testing and zero-tolerance policies. Details are on our employment page.
Can someone else pick up my medicine?
Yes, a registered caregiver. Caregivers must be at least 21, and a patient can have up to two. Patients under 18 must have one. See the caregiver guide.
Does my Ohio card work in other states, or theirs here?
We found no official source showing a reciprocity agreement in effect. The DCC says cannabis bought in another state cannot be brought into Ohio. For use outside Ohio, check the other state's law before you go.
Still have a question?
The Division of Cannabis Control helpline is 1-833-464-6627, and the Registry email is [email protected]. For questions about your health, ask your recommending physician.
Next on your checklist
Sources
- DCC - Ohio Cannabis FAQ
- DCC - How to Obtain Medical Marijuana
- DCC - Medical Marijuana Products and Daily Limits
- State Medical Board of Ohio - Certificate to Recommend
- OAC 4731-32-03 Standard of care / telehealth
- ORC 3796.06 Forms, methods, THC limits
- ORC 3796.28 Employment
- DCC - Renewing Patient Registration
Last updated:
This page summarizes Ohio rules in plain language and is not medical or legal advice; the Division of Cannabis Control, the State Medical Board of Ohio and your recommending physician have the final word.