An Ohio physician certified to recommend can evaluate you in person or by telehealth. If you qualify, state registration is free — and patients get benefits adult-use shoppers don't.
Your physician does the first piece of paperwork. The rest happens online with the Division of Cannabis Control.
An Ohio MD or DO with a Certificate to Recommend from the State Medical Board reviews your records and examines you — in person or by telehealth.
If you have a qualifying condition, the physician submits your recommendation to the state's patient registry.
Watch for an email with a link to complete your registration. Ohio eliminated its $50 fee in 2024.
Use your active registration at any licensed Ohio dispensary. Renew each year with your physician to keep it active.
Both programs now fall under the Division of Cannabis Control after SB 56 took effect in March 2026. They're still treated differently.
| Registered patient | Adult-use shopper | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 (younger with a caregiver) | 21 |
| 10% adult-use excise tax | Exempt | Charged |
| Edible potency | Higher-potency options available | Capped at 10 mg/serving, 110 mg/package |
| Home delivery | Authorized; rules being finalized | Not permitted |
| Registration cost | $0 | None needed |
Regular sales tax applies to both. Summarized from SB 56 analyses — check the Division of Cannabis Control for current rules.
Ohio doesn't allow open-ended eligibility. A certified physician must confirm one of these conditions.
The State Medical Board reviews petitions for new conditions each year. See the State Medical Board of Ohio for the current list.
Near I-70 in Clark County, serving registered medical patients and adult-use customers, with online ordering for pickup. Other licensed dispensaries also operate in town.
A large lake and shoreline trails on Springfield's east side — an easy escape for gentle walks close to home.
“I have Crohn's and didn't know it was on Ohio's list. The physician went through my records by video and filed everything the same day.”
— Melissa D., Springfield“Skipping the 10% tax adds up. Registration was free, so it was an easy decision.”
— Greg H., New CarlisleYes. Ohio lets a certified physician establish the physician-patient relationship through an exam in person or by telehealth.
No. In Ohio, only an MD or DO with an active Certificate to Recommend from the State Medical Board can recommend medical marijuana.
Nothing. Ohio eliminated its $50 patient fee in 2024. The physician's evaluation fee is separate.
Yes. The program is for Ohio residents, so bring Ohio identification.
No. Since SB 56, possessing marijuana purchased outside Ohio is prohibited. Buy from Ohio-licensed dispensaries.
From the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control.
Springfield, the seat of Clark County, grew along the historic National Road and earned the nickname "Champion City" from the farm machinery once built here. It's home to Wittenberg University and to Frank Lloyd Wright's Westcott House, a restored Prairie School landmark, while the Hartman Rock Garden and Buck Creek State Park add character and green space. Springfield residents follow the same statewide medical marijuana process as all Ohioans.
Chapter 3796 of the Ohio Revised Code governs medical marijuana and, since SB 56, adult-use too. The Division of Cannabis Control in the Ohio Department of Commerce runs the patient registry, and the State Medical Board certifies recommending physicians.
Tax exemption, eligibility at 18, higher-potency products, and upcoming home delivery keep the medical program worthwhile. Follow the Division of Cannabis Control for updates.
Appointments with Ohio physicians certified to recommend.
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