Ohio Marijuana Card Opens Offices In Westlake

WESTLAKE, OH — Ohio Marijuana Card is expanding to the west side, opening offices in Westlake. The company now has seven offices throughout the state, including an east side Cleveland location in Mayfield.

“As dispensaries near opening, interest in medical marijuana has reached a proverbial fever pitch,” Ohio Marijuana Card President Connor Shore stated. “In an effort to meet the demand, we have decided to open several new locations, starting with our Westlake location.”

Medical marijuana was made legal in Ohio in 2016. Over the past two years, the state has done little to untangle a messy web of requirements that patients must navigate to get a prescription for marijuana. Ohio Marijuana Card says it simplifies the process.

To enter a marijuana dispensary in Ohio, and buy a prescription, patients must have a medical marijuana card. There are 21 conditions that qualify a patient for a medical marijuana card (including PTSD, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, HIV, and others).

Once a patient is diagnosed with one of those conditions, they must set up and appointment with a doctor that can prescribe medical marijuana. Only some doctors have been certified by the state to prescribe the drug. After patients meet these doctors, their case is submitted to the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, who issues an official card to patients. Patients must pay an annual fee to keep their card.

Dispensaries won't open their doors to patients until 2019, at least. Still, some approved growers are beginning to cultivate their crop.

“Every new program like this struggles to land on its feet,” Ohio Marijuana Card Marketing and Business Relations Director Randy Shaffer said. “But we’ve been doing everything in our power to sign up patients and get them their medical marijuana recommendation so they are ready right on day one.”

There will be approximately 10 dispensaries in the Greater Cleveland area initially. Ohio Marijuana Card has a map of the planned dispensaries.

“We’ve found that many Ohioans are suffering and need access to dispensaries as soon as possible,” Shore stated. “Some patients are hurting and looking for alternatives to traditional medicines and dangerous opioids. Marijuana is that alternative.”

Ohio Marijuana Card's Westlake location will be at 24600 Center Ridge Road, Suite 107.

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. And like Patch on Facebook!)

Photo from Shutterstock