Two agencies regulating Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Program will receive $1,8 million in state funds to run the project. The Ohio’s Department of Commerce and Ohio Pharmacy Board asked the state for financial help to start working on the House Bill 523.
Ohio’s House Bill 523 started on a solid course after receiving on Monday funds to run the medical marijuana program. House Bill 523, which was endorsed by Governor John Kasich in June, lists 19 qualifying medical conditions to allow patients purchase medical marijuana. The project will take effect on September. Even if the law legalizes the use of medical marijuana, patients will have to qualify with certain health conditions, which need to be certified by Ohio’s physicians.
$1,8M to run the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program
The Ohio’s Department of Commerce and Ohio Pharmacy Board will receive $1,805,477 to run House Bill 523. The fee will be used to register marijuana’s dispensaries, to employ staff and to update the patient-caregiver prescription reporting system.
Of the $1,805,477, the Ohio Pharmacy Board will receive $882,400 to manage issues related to marijuana’s consumers and operate the Ohio Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee. In turn, the state Department of Commerce will receive $923,077 to license growers, cultivators and marijuana’s testing labs, as well as to conduct related research database.
People who want to get involved in medical marijuana growing will need a license similar to those required in any other business. Owners’ backgrounds will be investigated, and the dispensaries need to fulfill the guidelines established in the Ohio Medical Marijuana Program, e.g. the dispensary cannot be placed near schools.
Ohio Representative Dan Ramos, who announced the funds on Monday and is one of the sponsors of the regulation, remarked that home grow, or small production will not be allowed in the program. Those who want to take part in the medical marijuana program will have to “be in the business” of producing marijuana.
Since the federal government still classifies marijuana as an illegal substance, Marijuana crops will be grown in Ohio state lines. Growers, thus, will have to wait for seeds to grow the weed and then produce crops and cultivate them.
Although it seems like a job that might take a lot of time, the Ohio’s medical marijuana program is supposed to be fully operational before September 2018. Ramos said that it is important to conduct required efforts and contributions to start running the projects that will help Ohio’s residents in difficult health conditions.
“I’m pleased to see that the necessary steps are being taken immediately as this law takes effect. It is important that we are able to get this vital medicine to patients who need it as soon as possible,” said state Rep. Dan Ramos
Source: Dayton Daily News