Ohio Moves to Drastically Reduce Medical Cannabis Registration Fee to One Cent

LOS ANGELES- In a significant step toward making medical cannabis more accessible to patients, Ohio has announced plans to reduce the registration fee for medical cannabis patients to a nominal one cent. This move, aimed at providing immediate financial relief, precedes the state’s ultimate goal of eliminating the fee entirely. The decision reflects a broader trend among states to lower the financial barriers for medical cannabis access.

Previously, Ohio charged medical cannabis patients an annual registration fee of $50. However, in light of the new initiative, the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) is collaborating with a software company to update the state’s registry system, facilitating the removal of the fee. Until these updates are implemented, the fee will be temporarily set at one cent. The DCC acknowledges that while this nominal charge is not the final solution, it represents a significant interim measure to alleviate the financial burden on patients and caregivers.

The DCC’s statement emphasized the importance of this initiative: “The DCC understands that a one cent charge is not ideal; however, at this time the Division feels it is appropriate and necessary to provide this immediate financial relief for patients and caregivers in the short term while working toward a full fee elimination as soon as the updates to the registry can be made.”

This initiative is part of a growing movement across states to reduce costs associated with medical cannabis registration. For instance, New Jersey recently announced that starting in March, medical cannabis IDs will be available for free online, marking a departure from the previous $10 charge for physical cards. This digital option is expected to improve accessibility and convenience for patients, according to Jeff Brown, executive director of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC).

Ohio’s decision comes in the wake of the state’s legalization of adult-use cannabis last November. Despite the governor’s reservations, this development paves the way for retail sales, which have yet to begin. Meanwhile, New Jersey, which legalized adult-use cannabis in 2021, has reported over $2 billion in combined medical and recreational sales in the past five years, underscoring the economic impact of cannabis legalization.

The efforts in Ohio and New Jersey to minimize registration fees and improve program accessibility underscore a growing recognition of the importance of medical cannabis in treatment regimens and the need to ensure patients can afford and access their medicine without undue financial strain.