State Medical Board expected to approve doctors in Ohio allowed to recommend medical marijuana to patients

The state medical board on Wednesday approved 37 physicians to recommend medical marijuana to Ohio patients.

Most of the physicians approved as part of the first round of “certificate to recommend” applications are located in Northeast Ohio. Those approved Wednesday are a mix of M.D.s and D.O.s, of holistic practitioners and specialists. The board plans to approve more physicians next month and will publish names of those granted certificates to recommend.

The number of physicians willing to recommend marijuana — still a federally illegal substance — and where they’re located could slow down or stall the nascent program’s rollout. Other states’ medical marijuana programs have struggled to enlist enough physicians to serve the estimated patient population and have had to tweak regulations to encourage more participation.

A 2016 survey of Ohio doctors indicated very few were willing to participate, and a later survey found many could not participate because their employer would not allow them.

In Ohio, patients with one of 21 medical conditions can legally buy and use medical marijuana if recommended to them by a physician who has this certification from the Ohio State Medical Board.

In order to get a certificate to recommend, a physician must:

• Have an unrestricted M.D. or D.O. license to practice medicine in Ohio;
• Complete two continuing medical education credit hours, approved by the Ohio State Medical Association or Ohio Osteopathic Association.
• Doctors will need to pay as much as $399 for the required continuing education credits, but applying for certification from the state medical board is free.

When recommending medical marijuana, doctors must have discussed the risks and benefits of using marijuana and attest the patient has a qualifying medical condition, per state law.

Patients will register through their doctor’s office and immediately receive an electronic card they can use to buy marijuana at a retail dispensary. Patient registry is expected to begin in July.

Participation in the program is voluntary. Ohio has 39,838 active physicians, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Industry experts estimate Ohio could have 200,000 qualifying patients because the state lists chronic pain as a condition.