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Ohio

Though Ohio passed a referendum to legalize recreational marijuana on November 7, 2023, it is currently not legal in Ohio. Ohio lawmakers have also indicated that the language of the referendum that was approved by voters will likely be modified in the near future. This site will be updated to reflect those changes.

 

Though marijuana still illegal, the possession of small amounts has been decriminalized at the state level and within individual jurisdictions. The following municipalities have decriminalized possession of up to 200 g:
•    Adena

•    Athens
•    Bellaire
•    Bremen
•    Columbus

•    Forest Park (as of October 2022)

•    Fostoria (as of September 2022)
•    Fremont

•    Glouster

•    Harbor View (as of December 7, 2023)

•    Helena (as of May 2023)

•    Jacksonville
•    Logan

•    Martins Ferry (approved by ballot initiative on November 2, 2021)

•    Murray City (approved by ballot initiative on November 2, 2021)
•    Nelsonville
•    Newark

•    New Lexington (approved by ballot initiative on November 2, 2021)

•    New Straitsville (approved by ballot initiative on November 2, 2021)
•    Norwood
•    Oregon

•    Plymouth City 

•    Rayland (approved by ballot initiative on November 2, 2021)

•    Risingsun (as of December 7, 2023)
•    Roseville

•    Sugar Grove (as of December 7, 2023)

•    Tiltonsville (approved by ballot initiative on November 2, 2021)
•    Toledo

•    Trimble
•    Windham

•    Yellow Springs (effective October 8, 2020)

•    Yorkville (approved by ballot initiative on November 2, 2021) 


Dayton, meanwhile, has decriminalized the possession of 100 g or less, while Northwood has decriminalized the possession of 20 g of less. At the state level, possession of larger amounts of marijuana may result in imprisonment or fines of increasing severity depending on how much one has on their possession and the type of cannabis they possess.


For flower marijuana:
•    Less than 100 g: Misdemeanor offense and a $150 fine.
•    100-200 g: Misdemeanor offense with a maximum punishment of 30 days imprisonment and a fine of $250.
•    200-1000 g: Felony offense with a maximum punishment of 1 year of imprisonment and a fine of $2,500.
•    1-20 kg: Felony offense with a maximum punishment of 5 years of imprisonment and a fine of $10,000.
•    20-40 kg: Felony offense with a minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years and a maximum term of 8 years, as well as a fine of $15,000.
•    Over 40 kg: Felony offense with a minimum term of imprisonment of 8 years and a maximum fine of $20,000.


For solid concentrate:
•    Less than 5 g: Misdemeanor offense and a $150 fine.
•    5-10 g: Misdemeanor offense with a maximum punishment of 30 days imprisonment and a fine of $250.
•    10-50 g: Felony offense with a maximum punishment of 1 year of imprisonment and a fine of $2,500.
•    50-1000 g: Felony offense with a maximum punishment of 3 years of imprisonment and a fine of $10,000.
•    Over 1 kg: Felony offense with a maximum punishment of 8 years and a fine of $15,000.
For liquid concentrate:
•    Less than 1 g: Misdemeanor offense and a $150 fine
•    1-2 g: Misdemeanor offense with a maximum punishment of 30 days imprisonment and a fine of $250.
•    2-10 g: Felony offense with a maximum punishment of 1 year of imprisonment and a fine of $2,500.
•    10-200 g: Felony offense with a maximum punishment of 3 years of imprisonment and a fine of $10,000.
•    Over 200 g: Felony offense with a maximum punishment of 8 years and a fine of $15,000.
The penalties for cultivation are the same as possession of flower marijuana, though the state does allow an affirmative defense should the amount grown be less than 1 kg. In this case, an individual may be able to plead guilty to a misdemeanor rather than a felony.


Ohio does have a medical marijuana program and MDs and DOs with a license to practice medicine in Ohio who have a bona-fide physician-patient relationship with a patient may recommend marijuana for the following conditions:
•    ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
•    Alzheimer’s disease

•    Arthritis (added May 2021)

•    Cachexia (added July 2020)
•    Cancer

•    Chronic migraines (added May 2021)
•    Chronic traumatic encephalopathy

•    Complex regional pain syndrome (May 2021)
•    Crohn’s disease

•    Epilepsy
•    Fibromyalgia
•    Glaucoma
•    Hepatitis C
•    HIV/AIDS

•    Huntington's disease (added June 2021)
•    IBD (inflammatory bowel disorder)
•    Multiple sclerosis
•    Chronic or intractable pain
•    Parkinson’s disease
•    PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
•    Sickle cell anemia 

•    Spasticity (added June 2021)
•    Spinal cord injury or disease

•    Terminal illness (added June 2021)
•    Tourette disease
•    Traumatic brain injury
•    Ulcerative colitis


Ohio does not have a reciprocity program to accommodate medical marijuana patients from out of state. 


For more information, please see the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program website: https://www.medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/.

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