Registry card
Since March 4, 20243
$0.01
Updated for 2026 · Ohio Division of Cannabis Control
Ohio Medical Marijuana Registry Guide [2026]
How to apply, activate and renew your card in the Ohio Medical Marijuana Patient & Caregiver Registry, step by step, with the current fee, deadlines and rules.
- Telehealth allowed statewide
- $0.01 state fee
- Pay only if approved
Activation deadline
From your recommendation date2
90 days
Physician evaluation with Ohio 420 Doctors: $159 new · $149 renewal
Two-step process
How to apply for an Ohio medical marijuana card online
Complete both steps and you can legally buy, possess and use medical marijuana in Ohio.
Get a recommendation from a CTR physician
Only physicians with a Certificate to Recommend from the State Medical Board of Ohio can recommend medical marijuana, and the exam can be done by telehealth.910
Book an online appointment with an Ohio CTR physician.
Attend your video evaluation from anywhere in Ohio.
If you qualify, the physician registers you in the Ohio registry.
Your recommendation is uploaded to the registry, usually the same day.
Activate your card in the registry
The state emails you a link to finish registration. Activate within 90 days, pay the one-cent fee and download your card.23
Open the registry email and set your password.
Click ACTIVATE CARD under the Card tab.
Accept the notice and pay $0.01.
Download your digital card.
Step 2 in detail
How to activate your Ohio Medical Marijuana Registry card
Follow these steps after your physician enters your recommendation.2
Open the registry email
Find the Ohio Medical Marijuana Registry email. Check spam and junk if it isn't in your inbox.2
Set your password
Click the link in the email and create the password for your patient registry account.
Choose your time zone
Sign in and pick your time zone from the dropdown to reach your registry homepage.
Go to the Card tab
In Registry Details, open the Card tab and click ACTIVATE CARD.
Accept and continue
Read the legal notice, click ACCEPT, then PROCEED TO PAYMENT.
Pay the $0.01 fee
Enter your payment details. The state fee is one cent.3
Download your card
Your active card appears under the Card tab. Save it to your phone or print it.1
Visit a dispensary
Bring your card and the photo ID tied to your registry account every time you buy.1
About the program
Who runs Ohio's medical marijuana program?
Ohio legalized medical marijuana when House Bill 523 took effect on September 8, 2016.8 Today the program is split between two state agencies, and your physician connects you to both.
Ohio Division of Cannabis Control
Part of the Department of Commerce. Runs the Patient & Caregiver Registry, licenses dispensaries, cultivators, processors and labs, and sets purchase limits.16
State Medical Board of Ohio
Certifies the physicians who can recommend medical marijuana and maintains the list of 26 qualifying conditions.8
Your CTR physician
Confirms your qualifying condition, enters your recommendation and adds any caregivers to your registry profile.5
Stay compliant
Ohio medical marijuana rules for cardholders
Keep your registration in good standing by following these rules.76
Respect purchase limits
Up to 2.5 oz plant material and 15,000 mg THC per day. Patients can buy up to 4 days at once and keep a 90-day supply.6
Don't share or sell
Never sell or give your medical marijuana to others, and never let someone else use your card.7
No smoking
Smoking medical marijuana isn't permitted. Vaporizing is allowed only on private residential or agricultural property.7
Mind where you use it
Not in public, at work, in vehicles, or on federal property.7
Never drive impaired
Don't operate a car, boat or aircraft under the influence. Keep opened products in the trunk or behind the last row of seats.7
Ohio products only
Buy only from Ohio-licensed dispensaries. Out-of-state marijuana is illegal to possess in Ohio.7
Full details: Ohio marijuana laws · Purchase limit calculator
After year one
Renewals and caregivers in the registry
Renew every year
Get a new recommendation from a CTR physician, then sign in and click RENEW CARD within 30 days of expiration. Your updated card appears right away.4
Add a caregiver
Caregivers are generally Ohio residents aged 21+ (parents of minors can be an exception). Your physician adds them to your profile, and the state checks their eligibility before they can buy for you.5
Questions
Ohio Medical Marijuana Registry FAQs
Is an Ohio medical marijuana card public record?
No. The Patient & Caregiver Registry isn't a public list. It's used by the state, your physician and dispensaries to verify your registration.
Who runs the Ohio Medical Marijuana Registry?
I never got the registry email. What do I do?
How long do I have to activate my card?
90 days from your recommendation date. After that the recommendation is voided and you'll need a new one.2
How much is the state registration fee?
One cent. The Division of Cannabis Control cut the patient fee from $50 to $0.01 on March 4, 2024.3
Can my family doctor recommend medical marijuana in Ohio?
Only if they hold a Certificate to Recommend (CTR) from the State Medical Board of Ohio. Most family doctors don't, which is why many patients use a CTR physician online.9
Can I get my recommendation by telehealth?
Yes. Ohio allows CTR physicians to perform the required examination by telehealth, so you can complete both steps from home.10
Can I grow marijuana with an Ohio medical card?
A medical card doesn't add any grow rights. Separately, Ohio's adult-use law lets adults 21+ grow up to 6 plants (12 per household) at their primary residence.7
Can I buy a gun with an Ohio medical marijuana card?
This is changing. In April 2026 the Justice Department moved state-licensed medical marijuana products to Schedule III, but the ATF hasn't finalized its updated firearm form. Speak with a firearms attorney before buying.11