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12/06/2018

Ohio Medical Marijuana Patient Registry Opens: What it Means for Doctors

 

The State of Ohio Pharmacy Board opened the state’s Medical Marijuana Control Program (OMMCP) patient registry this week. While physicians will be able to add patients to the registry, it is important to stress to doctors, staff – and most importantly – patients, that product will likely not be available until at least the first quarter of 2019. Even then, the amount of product will be extremely limited, as growers and dispensaries come online throughout 2019.

What does this mean for doctors?

Physicians already certified to recommend (CTR) medical marijuana can find an instructional video on registering patients on the OMMCP website, under the physician tab, located here. Once activated, physicians certified to recommend can log into the system with their OARRS credentials to add patients and caregivers to the registry and make a medical marijuana recommendation.

OSMA strongly urges all physicians to review the State Medical Board of Ohio’s Standard of Care rules. Physicians recommending medical marijuana must:

• See the patient in-person at least once per year
• Maintain a bona fide physician/patient relationship
• Attest in the registry that the patient has a qualifying condition

When discussing and recommending medical marijuana to patients, it is important to manage the patient’s expectations. Remember to stress to each patient the likelihood of product shortages during the industry’s start-up phase. Inventory and variety of products will be limited and not all announced dispensary locations may yet be open for business.

What does this mean for patients?

Patients seeking a medical marijuana recommendation must review the informational video for patients and caregivers, and have been diagnosed with one of the qualifying conditions.

Once a patient finds a physician who is certified to recommend medical marijuana and establishes a relationship, the physician can add the patient or caregiver to the registry with an active state driver’s license, Ohio-BMV issued ID card or US Passport.

Patients will automatically receive an email to complete their registration once the doctor makes the recommendation. Patients should click the link to the registry found in the email, log in and activate their patient “card” by paying the $50 fee.


For questions and additional information, contact the Medical Marijuana Control Program Toll-Free Helpline at 1-833-4OH-MMCP (1-833-464-6627).

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