Ohio Medical Cannabis Program Raised Nearly $725 Million |

Ohio’s medical cannabis program has generated approximately $725 million in revenue, according to a local news report.

The number was ascertained by local television station WKYC, which cited the state’s Commerce Department’s Medical Marijuana Control Program.

The Ohio legislature passed a measure legalizing medicinal cannabis in 2016, but sales didn’t start until three years later.

“Ohio’s program has matured fairly quickly,” said Kate Nelson, regional general manager of Acreage Holdings, a cannabis operator, as quoted by WKYC. “I am very impressed with the growth in patient access, physician referrals and available products.”

Buckeye state medical cannabis law covers a broad spectrum of qualifying medical conditions: AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cachexia, cancer, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy or other seizure disorder, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, hepatitis C, Huntington’s disease , inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable, Parkinson’s disease, HIV positive status, post-traumatic stress disorder, sickle cell anemia, spasticity, spinal cord disease or injury, terminal illness, Tourette’s syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and colitis colitis.

Efforts are currently underway to add autism to this list of qualifying conditions.

A bill that would allow patients with autism to receive medical cannabis treatments was introduced by a Republican and Democrat in the Ohio State House and passed the chamber earlier this month by a vote of 73 to 13.

“This legislation is a direct result of the needs and wants of people in Ohio who are on the autism spectrum,” said Democratic House Representative Juanita Brent, a co-sponsor of the proposal. “It will help ensure legal access to an herbal solution free from expensive prescription drugs or other outdated and sometimes harmful treatments.”

Another bill introduced by a Republican state senator would open up the medical cannabis program even more, allowing physicians to “recommend marijuana for the treatment of any medical condition where, in the physician’s sole discretion and medical opinion, the physician determines any of the following.” states: “that the patient’s symptoms may reasonably be relieved by medical marijuana” and “that the patient may otherwise reasonably benefit from medical marijuana.”

Both bills would represent the most significant change to the state’s medicinal cannabis program since its inception.

These aren’t the only cannabis reform efforts underway in Ohio. A group called the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol led a petition hoping to force Ohio lawmakers to act on a legalization law.

The group submitted approximately 136,000 verified signatures from registered voters in January, triggering a four-month window under Ohio state law for lawmakers to consider the proposal.

Republican lawmakers have so far shown no willingness to take up the proposal, leading the group to a Plan B scenario: After collecting about 133,000 more valid signatures, the legalization proposal could go to a vote in Ohio this November.

“We remain hopeful that the Legislature will respond to an issue that we believe is popular with Ohio voters,” said Tom Haren, a spokesman for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, as quoted by WKYC. “From our standpoint, it’s really just a matter of acknowledging reality and removing criminal penalties for behaviors that thousands of Ohioans are already engaged in.”

In February, Republican Matt Huffman, President of the Ohio State Senate, did not mince his words when asked about the proposal’s chances in his chamber.

“I don’t want anyone to misunderstand my position,” Huffman said. “I’m not going to take it to the Senate. And if that means people want to put it on the ballot, then you have it.”