What You Need to Know About Legal Weed in Ohio
Even though it’s illegal at a federal level, many people ingest cannabis, whether medicinally or recreationally. Understanding what the laws around weed consumption look like in your state is crucial.
In Ohio, weed is illegal for recreational use but legal for medicinal use. Here’s what you need to know about Ohio marijuana laws and whether weed is legal in Ohio.
Ohio Marijuana Laws
In Ohio, weed is illegal for recreational use but legal for medical use. Ohio decriminalized the possession of fewer than 100 grams of weed in 1975. Possessing less than 100 grams is usually a “minor misdemeanor,” meaning it carries a maximum fine of $150.
Ohio legalized marijuana through the state legislature in 2016. Although there have been grassroots and legislative attempts to legalize the plant more broadly, and for recreational use in the state, they have been unsuccessful. It is not legal to possess, sell, or ingest it recreationally.
Medical Marijuana in Ohio
As of 2016, the use of cannabis for medical purposes has been legal in the state of Ohio. Ohio approves cannabis use for individuals with any of the following qualifying conditions.
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- HIV/AIDS
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Cancer
- Fibromyalgia
- Hepatitis C
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Spinal Cord Disease or Injury
- Tourette Syndrome
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Cachexia
- Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
- Epilepsy, or another seizure disorder
- Glaucoma
- Huntington’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Spasticity
- Terminal illness
- Traumatic brain injury
Ohio also regulates the medical consumption of weed—prohibiting ingestion by smoking. Legal forms of ingesting marijuana include edibles, vaporizers, patches, and tinctures.
Penalties
The possession of fewer than 100 grams of weed is a misdemeanor in Ohio. Ohio enforces penalties of no more than a $150 fine.
With possession of over 100 grams, fines increase, and incarceration becomes a possibility. Marijuana possession becomes a felony if cops catch you with 200 to 1,000 grams. With this amount, the maximum fine becomes $2500, and the possible incarceration time becomes a year.
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With the possession of 20,000 grams of marijuana, Ohio enforces mandatory jail sentences.
Possession of 20,000 and 40,000 grams can lead to fines of $15,000 and a minimum sentence of five years.
Above 40,000 grams of marijuana, the mandatory minimum becomes eight years in prison, with a maximum fine of $20,000.
FAQs About Ohio Marijuana Laws
What is the difference between decriminalizing and legalizing marijuana in Ohio?
Decriminalization means that the possession and use of a previously illegal drug are legally prohibited, but cops no longer apply criminal charges for minor offenses with the drug. These offenses may include the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Legalization means the drug’s sale, use, and possession would go unpenalized.
Do you automatically lose your driver’s license if a court convicts you of marijuana possession in Ohio?
As of 2016, you do not automatically lose your driver’s license if a court convicts you of possessing or consuming marijuana in Ohio. Previously, an Ohio law required that possession of any illegal drug result in a mandatory six-month driver’s license suspension. A bill passed in 2016 makes those suspensions optional.
Where can medical marijuana patients legally obtain their weed in Ohio?
Since Ohio legalized medical marijuana, the state has licensed cultivators and dispensaries to grow and sell regulated marijuana to patients. Ohio required the state to reevaluate the number of dispensaries needed per district every two years.
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