Ohio's medical marijuana law goes in effect Thursday, but no pot for two years

This year, Ohio became the 25th state to legalize medical marijuana and tomorrow the law goes into effect, so why isn't there more celebrating? While medical marijuana becomes law tomorrow, the program is nowhere near ready. There are no growers, processors, dispensaries, or anything, and the programs initial rules don't release until later this month - so when can patients expect access to marijuana? Sometime in the next two years is the only answer so far. As of now, there are no doctors certified to refer patients, and state law does not protect employees from drug testing for cannabis, even for medical marijuna patients. The program is far from ready, but once implemented, patients will be able to receive a 90-day supply of cannabis edibles, patches, oils, tinctures, and plant material for vaporizing only as smoking remains prohibited. 

Patients qualify if they have any of the following conditions: HIV/AIDS; Alzheimer's disease; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); cancer; chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE); Crohn's disease; epilepsy or another seizure disorder; fibromyalgia; glaucoma; hepatitis C; inflammatory bowel disease; multiple sclerosis; pain that is chronic, severe, and intractable; Parkinson's disease; post traumatic stress disorder; sickle cell anemia; spinal cord disease or injury; Tourette's syndrome; traumatic brain injury; and ulcerative colitis.