The rollout of Ohio’s medical cannabis industry has been potentially delayed as the state Board of Pharmacy has canceled its meeting to discuss provisional licensing for dispensaries. The meeting, which was planned for today, has been moved to June 4-6.
But that’s not the only setback: According to a WLWT5 report, there are just 89 physicians in the state certified to recommend medical cannabis to patients; but applications only opened on Mar. 20. The law requires that physicians complete a two-hour continuing medical education course to participate in the program.
The law requires the program to be fully operational by Sept. 8. Earlier this week, two Franklin County courts ruled that state officials can continue moving forward with implementing the program despite lawsuits seeking to put the process on hold, WKSU reports. Six medical cannabis cultivator applicants sued the state in February claiming that regulators didn’t follow their own rules when scoring and awarding the cannabis-growing licenses. The judges ruled that while the state can proceed with the process, hearings for the complaints must be heard quickly.
Cultivation licenses could prove more lucrative if advocates are successful in their recreational cannabis ballot initiative push. Last week, the Ohio Ballot Board certified the Ohio Families for Change petition and now the campaign needs to collect enough valid signatures to put the issue to voters.
Get daily cannabis business news updates. Subscribe
End
