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Is CBD Oil Legal In Ohio 2024? Things You Need To Know & Where To Buy
Updated on
- Written by Healthcanal Staff
Medically reviewed by
Healthcanal Staff
On the 8th of June, Ohio finally let its doors open to the cannabis world after becoming the 25th state to legalize medical marijuana. This was after John Kasich signed House Bill 523. The bill allowed residents to use medical marijuana to treat specific conditions with approval or recommendation from a doctor.
In one way or another, 33 out of 50 states have managed to legalize marijuana in one form or another. This has been an incredible statistic because the future of medical marijuana relies on such bills. However, medical marijuana is not the same as CBD oil. The question for every Ohio state resident is whether CBD oil is legal in Ohio state.
It is crucial for anyone living in Ohio to familiarize themselves with state laws concerning CBD oil and CBD by-products before making a CBD purchase. The only way to make sure you are free and safe from legal problems is by making sure you are following all the CBD laws and rules set out by the state for buying CBD oil.
It wasn’t until the Ohio state laws were passed to legalize CBD oil for the sake of the patients, caregivers, and advocates of medical marijuana. Ohio is one of the states among those that have made an initiative to change the laws surrounding hemp, cannabis plants, and other derivatives like CBD oil for legal and medical use.
Is CBD Legal In Ohio?
Yes, CBD oil is legal in the state of Ohio. However, there is a catch, it has to be hemp-derived CBD oil, and it has to have no more than 0.3% THC. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy will only CBD oil bought via the medical marijuana control program dispensary as legal. Hence, CBD bought via any other means in Ohio is considered illegal.
The board approved 56 dispensary licenses, leaving the Ohio Department of Commerce to regulate the hemp processors, cultivators, and testing labs. From the end of 2018, the medical marijuana program[1] was partially operational due to some setbacks the program suffered.
The Ohio Department of Commerce and the state of Ohio Board of Pharmacy are supposed to be at the forefront of making sure the proper steps in making sure the medical marijuana control program remains fully operational, as per the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program’s website.
For a few years now, Ohio has been one of the states that have been accepting hemp-derived CBD products that can offer people potential health benefits. However, this was regarding CBD hemp oil, not cannabis CBD oil.
Hence, police agencies are not allowed to prosecute people found carrying small amounts of hemp-based CBD oil. This is also in correlation with the new Ohio CBD laws introduced by the state that states that for CBD oil to be considered legal in the state, it has to have a low THC level of less than 0.3%. If THC goes above the prescribed level, then legal action can be enforced towards to if you are found possessing it.
You can find CBD oil products in Ohio with no more than 0.3% THC. However, it would be best if you remembered that only the CBD oil products sold in licensed dispensaries are considered to be legal by Ohio’s Pharmacy Board.
The board emphasizes the need to make sure that the CBD oil is thoroughly checked through testing procedures that comply with the rules. The 2014’s Agricultural Act states that CBD is only considered legal when cultivated under state law, where the state department of Agriculture or institution of higher education is located.
CBD that isn’t manufactured under the state pilot program or from hemp for academic research is considered illegal in the state of Ohio. Since the 1980s, one could not be arrested in Ohio for carrying 100 grams of marijuana.
Ohio decriminalized hemp when SB 57[2] was passed in July 2019. A regulatory framework was set up to license hemp cultivation per federal law. Hence, hemp processors and growers have to be licensed and their CBD products tested.
The bill requires licenses for processing or growing hemp to be valid for three years and not be availed to anyone with drug-related convictions in the past ten years. You don’t need a license to sell or buy CBD oil in Ohio.
Why You Should Buy CBD Oil In Ohio Online?
Although you can buy CBD oil from inside and outside the state, it is illegal to buy CBD oil products from any other location other than licensed and state-approved dispensaries. However, this may be inconvenient, particularly for patients who have transportation or mobility issues.
However, you can still buy CBD oil online from authentic and trustworthy retailers. However, you need to make sure you can get proof of whether the CBD oil is hemp-derived and is below 0.3% THC by checking their third-party lab reports.
Compared to buying CBD oil locally, buying CBD oil products can be less expensive, and you could end up saving money in the long run. Some companies have reasonable offers and discounts as well as friendly shipping requirements and charges.
Where To Buy CBD Oil In Ohio?
If you don’t want to buy CBD oil online, you can also purchase it from medical dispensaries that have been licensed by the state. This means that you need a doctor’s recommendation and approval to buy CBD oil legally within the state.
You can find state-licensed dispensaries that sell CBD oil in the state in cities like Cleveland, Columbus, Akron, Parma, Toledo, Cincinnati, Dayton, Lorain, Elyria, Hamilton, Canton, Kettering, Youngstown, Springfield, Euclid, Lakewood, Middletown, Newark, Mansfield, and Mentor.
Final Thoughts
Luckily for all cannabis lovers living in Ohio, this is a progressive and forward-thinking state. They are in the process of decriminalizing cannabis for recreational purposes. Medical marijuana and CBD oil are legal in the state. However, CBD oil has to contain less than 0.3% THC, and it should be cultivated and processed within the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you don’t need a prescription, but you need a doctor’s recommendation or approval. You need to have obtained a medical marijuana card for the 21 qualifying medical conditions listed and approved by the state to be treated with marijuana or CBD. The caregivers also need an electric ID card that will allow them to leave the doctor’s office directly to buy CBD oil from a state dispensary.
According to Ohio’s medical marijuana control program, people with these 21 conditions qualify to have a medical marijuana card and obtain CBD oil products. They include; AIDS, Cancer, Fibromyalgia, Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Crohn’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Glaucoma, Epilepsy, Hepatitis C, Chronic pain, Inflammatory bowel syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Sickle cell anemia, Stress, Ulcerative colitis, positive status for HIV, Tourette’s syndrome, spinal cord disease, and Traumatic brain injury.
+ 2 sources
Health Canal avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic researches from medical associations and institutions. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Health Canal, you can read more about the editorial process here
- State (2022). Medical Marijuana Control Program. [online] Ohio.gov. Available at: https://www.medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/.
- Ohio.gov. (2019). Senate Bill 57 | 133rd General Assembly | Ohio Legislature. [online] Available at: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/133/sb57.
Written by:
Healthcanal Staff
Medically reviewed by:
Medically reviewed by:
