What Ohio's telehealth rule allows
An Ohio medical marijuana evaluation can be done entirely online. The State Medical Board rule OAC 4731-32-03(A), in effect since February 29, 2024, says the physician-patient relationship is established through "either in-person visit or through the use of telehealth services that complies with this rule." The DCC's patient page backs that up for the yearly follow-up: "You must have an in-person or telemedicine visit at least once a year."
So both the first recommendation and every renewal recommendation can come from a video visit.
Who is allowed to recommend
The person on the other end of the call has to be an MD or DO with a full, unrestricted Ohio license and an active Certificate to Recommend (CTR) from the State Medical Board. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are not on that list. To get a CTR, a physician completes a two-hour continuing education course; the Board charges no fee for it.
The DCC counted 484 physicians with a CTR on October 14, 2026. Before you pay a telehealth service, type the physician's name into the Board's CTR physician search. It takes a minute.
Before the video call: a checklist
- ID ready to show and upload. An Ohio BMV driver's license or ID card is standard. Without one, the DCC accepts certain federal or other-state IDs plus two documents with an Ohio street address.
- Records on hand. Diagnosis notes, imaging reports, a medication list. The physician has to confirm one of the 26 qualifying conditions, and a video visit gives them less to go on than an exam room.
- A private spot and a working camera. You will talk about your health history.
- An email address you check. The physician creates your Registry account, and you will sign in to activate it.
What the physician does on their end
If the physician decides you qualify, they enter the recommendation in the Patient and Caregiver Registry and submit your ID and residency documents. You then sign in and activate. The full sequence is on our Ohio application checklist.
The physician can also say no, or ask for more records. A telehealth visit is still a medical evaluation, and a recommendation is never guaranteed.
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 →Questions to ask a telehealth provider
- Is the physician who will see me listed in the CTR search?
- Does the fee include entering the recommendation in the Registry?
- What happens if the physician does not recommend? Is any part refunded?
- What does the yearly renewal visit cost, and will it be with the same physician?
Ohio does not set evaluation prices, so the answers vary. Registration itself is free; our cost page breaks down the rest.
Our partner, and how we are paid
Online medical marijuana evaluations are available for Ohio residents, and code DRWDY85872 takes 5% off. You do not have to book online; any physician with a Certificate to Recommend can do this, including one you already see in person.
Next: put the renewal on the calendar
Whoever you see, you will need another visit within a year. The renewal timeline shows when the DCC sends its 45-day notice and when you can click RENEW CARD. Signing up for a child or relative? The caregiver guide explains who has to register alongside them.
Questions people ask
Is an online medical marijuana evaluation legal in Ohio?
Yes. OAC 4731-32-03, effective February 29, 2024, says the physician-patient relationship may be established through an in-person visit or through telehealth services that comply with the rule.
Can a telehealth company's doctor be from another state?
The recommending physician must be an MD or DO with a full, unrestricted Ohio license and an active Ohio Certificate to Recommend. Check the name in the State Medical Board's CTR search.
Does a video visit cost less than an office visit?
The state does not set or publish evaluation prices for either. Compare quotes, and ask what the yearly renewal visit costs too.
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.