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What to Know About Ohio's Marijuana Legalization

It's true, Ohio has passed some pro-cannabis laws. Here's what you need to know about Ohio's marijuana legalization.

By Skunk UzekiPublished 7 years ago 2 min read
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Ohio is one of the many states that recently decided that it's time to legalize cannabis — and yes, courts have agreed to overturn laws banning it for all use.

Though Ohio has decided to greenlight (haha!) the usage of marijuana in certain cases, it's important to understand what's the full scoop on the legalization progress before you try to partake in the newly-legalized herbal supplements in the state.

Here's what you need to know about Ohio's marijuana legalization before you hit the state.

Ohio's marijuana legalization laws only apply to medical marijuana.

Medical marijuana is the only kind of cannabis use that is legalized, and in order to qualify for marijuana use, you need to have a special diagnosis from a certified doctor. Only a handful of ailments are actually qualified to be cause for marijuana use in the state. These diseases include HIV/AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and more.

Once you have been diagnosed with an illness treatable by medical marijuana, you will need to get a special written permission from a doctor that has been cleared to prescribe medical marijuana to you.

This means that if you are caught using marijuana for recreational purposes or without expressed permission from a specialized doctor, it'll be as if Ohio's marijuana legalization never went into effect.

Oddly enough, smoking and growing marijuana will still remain illegal in Ohio. So, if you do use medical marijuana, it seems like edibles, vaping, and tea are the way to go.

Here are some more strange quirks about Ohio's marijuana legalization that you should know about.

Ohio's marijuana legalization laws say that you can't be charged if you have a prescription, but also make no provisions on where you're supposed to get legal green. It's assumed that you will get it from an illegal, black market source... yet that can still get you in trouble, too.

Doctors who do prescribe cannabis in Ohio also are expected to be specially licensed, cleared, and to undertake continuing education about the herb.

That being said, dispensaries are expected to start cropping up soon — if not already. So, in the near future, you will be able to buy and sell medical marijuana legally, assuming that you are willing to deal with the red tape. (Yes, there is a lot of red tape involved, much of which deals with preventing dispensaries from being too close to schools.)

Also, green tourism is not a thing to try in Ohio. If you're caught with green and are from another state, you will be charged with possession and possibly arrested.

So, what now?

Ohio's marijuana legalization only recently came into being. However, it's a good step in the right direction — and hopefully, it will lead to a more open and compassionate view on legalization for recreational purposes, too.

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About the Creator

Skunk Uzeki

Skunk Uzeki is an androgynous pothead and a hard partier. When they aren't drinking and causing trouble, they're writing articles about the fun times they have.

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