Hamilton, Ohio, not the county
A quick clarification, because it confuses people: the city of Hamilton is in Butler County and is its county seat. Hamilton County is the county that contains Cincinnati, to the south. For your card, the distinction does not matter. The program is statewide.
The telehealth rule
Ohio allows the whole evaluation by video. The State Medical Board's rule OAC 4731-32-03, in effect since February 29, 2024, says the physician-patient relationship can be established in person or through telehealth that complies with the rule. The DCC adds that you need an in-person or telemedicine visit at least once a year, so renewals can be done the same way.
Our guide to online evaluations in Ohio covers the details, including questions to ask a provider before you pay.
Three checks before a video visit
- Is the physician eligible? Only MDs and DOs with a full, unrestricted Ohio license and an active Certificate to Recommend can recommend. Look the name up in the State Medical Board's CTR physician search. Ohio had 484 CTR physicians on October 14, 2026.
- Is your condition listed? Ohio has 26 qualifying conditions. Anxiety and insomnia are not among them.
- Are your documents ready? An Ohio BMV license or ID card, or another accepted ID plus two documents showing your Ohio street address. Have medical records on hand to share.
Need the recommendation part done?
In Ohio the physician starts your Registry file, so the visit comes first. Online evaluations are available for Ohio residents, and code DRWDY85872 takes 5% off. Registration itself is free.
Start my Ohio evaluation →After the call
If the physician recommends medical marijuana, they enter the recommendation in the Registry and create your account. You sign in and activate. There is no state fee. The full sequence is on our application checklist, and the cost page explains why the visit is your only real expense.
If the physician does not recommend it, that is a medical judgment. Ask what records might help, or whether another listed condition applies.
Buying in Butler County
Look up licensed stores on the DCC's official dispensary map. All are dual-use. Tell staff you are a patient so the 10% adult-use excise is left off. Patients may buy up to 2.5 oz of plant material or 15,000 mg of THC per day, with up to four days' worth in one trip.
Medical marijuana may not be smoked. Vaping is allowed only on private residential or agricultural property.
North and south
Down the road, the Cincinnati guide covers residency and the Kentucky line. Up the Great Miami River, the Dayton guide covers veteran status.
Set up the call
Find a quiet room, test your camera, gather your ID and records, and confirm the physician's CTR before you pay.
Next on your checklist
Sources
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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.