Complete Story
07/02/2019
Only half of Ohioans eligible for medical marijuana have bought drug
Source: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
More than 42,000 people can legally buy medical marijuana in Ohio with a doctor’s recommendation, but only about half of them have, state records show (Source: “42,000 Can Buy Medical Marijuana in Ohio; About Half Have Done So,” The Columbus Dispatch, June 23, 2019).
When asked why they haven’t bought any medicinal cannabis, patients cited a common reason: cost.
Marijuana is approved to treat 21 conditions in Ohio, including post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain. The drug was first approved for medical use in the state in 2016, but the first dispensary didn’t open until March 2019. Patients who want to use cannabis to treat those conditions acknowledged that prices have fallen, but said expense was still by far the biggest barrier.
Only 18 of the 56 dispensaries that were granted provisional licenses have been approved to open, meaning many cannabis users must factor in travel costs to their overall expenses.
