Source: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
The State Controlling Board, a legislative panel that oversees state expenditures, on July 24 approved an additional $6 million to pay for startup expenses for the Ohio Medical Marijuana Program (Source: “Medical Marijuana Set-Up Costing Ohio Taxpayers $6 Million More,” The Columbus Dispatch, July 25, 2017).
In separate votes, the board approved an additional $1.6 million for the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy (SOBP) and $4.4 million for the Ohio Commerce Department. Both agencies are involved in setting up the new program to permit the sale of medical marijuana to qualifying patients by September 2018.
The money earmarked for the SOPB will be used to hire a consultant to create a scoring system to approve marijuana dispensary licenses, pay for a toll-free hotline, and cover anticipated legal expenses, according to Controlling Board documents. The Commerce Department said it will use the new money primarily for a “seed-to-sale” database tracking program related to the planting, harvest, processing, and sale of medical marijuana and products containing it to people with any of 21 specified diseases, medical conditions and chronic pain.
About $5 million was previously approved by the Controlling Board for related startup expenses. State agencies say they expect to be able to repay some of the advance money from licenses and fees when the program is up and running.
To learn more about Medical Marijuana in Ohio, attend the Members Assembly and visit the OAFP website.