Medical Marijuana Control Program
MMCP Rule Review Comment Period Closing
The Ohio Department of Commerce Medical Marijuana Control Program submitted the following proposed rule package and business impact analysis for review to the Common Sense Initiative. The MMCP is soliciting public input on draft changes to Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3796.

Please review the revised draft amended and new rules and provide any comments you may have by 5 p.m. on March 22, 2019 to mmcp@com.state.oh.us and CSIPublicComments@governor.ohio.gov. Please include the words “MMCP Commerce Rule Review” in the subject line of all comments.

 
If you have questions about the rules or the rule review process, please contact Sydney King, Director of Stakeholder Relations, at sydney.king@com.state.oh.us .
Advertising Reminder
Advertisement includes, but is not limited to, all business-to-business materials, strain sheets, social media, brochures, websites, and logos. All proposed advertisements must be submitted to the Department for approval. Licensees could be subject to enforcement action if advertising materials are utilized that have not been submitted to the Department for the review.

In order to provide clarity and understanding for what is permissible under the Ohio Administrative Code, the MMCP developed the following documents to assist you as you develop your advertising and marketing campaigns:
Sample Jar Guidance
The Ohio Department of Commerce is not requiring licensees to submit sample jars for approval. However, licensees should ensure that the sample jars meet the following requirements to avoid issues at dispensaries:

  • The free sample must be in a sample jar protected by a plastic or metal mesh screen.
  • The sample must not include more than three grams of plant material.
  • The sample jar must include a label with the following information:
  • Name of cultivator
  • Name of product
  • Product ID
  • Cannabinoid content from corresponding laboratory analysis
  • Transportation of a sample jar that contains sampled product must still adhere to all pertinent transportation rules.
  • Before the sample jar can be returned to a cultivator, the sample must be destroyed, adhering to destruction protocols, by the dispensary. It is recommended that the sample jar be sanitized by the cultivator before reuse. 
Compliance Reminders
Employee Licensing

Please be sure to have prospective employees direct background check results to the below address:

Ohio Department of Commerce
Medical Marijuana Control Program
77 S. High St., 23 rd Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215

The Department cannot accept results that have been received by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy or results sent to a personal or business address.

No person shall begin working at a cultivator, processor, or testing laboratory prior to receiving his or her employee identification card. A cardholder must keep his or her employee identification card visible at all times when on the property of a cultivator, processor, or testing laboratory and during the transportation of medical marijuana to another cultivator, processor, testing laboratory, or dispensary.

  • Any employee identification card that is lost, destroyed, or stolen shall be reported to the Department immediately upon discovery of the loss, destruction, or theft, and the Department may require a similar report to law enforcement.
  • A cardholder who reports his or her employee identification card as lost, destroyed, or stolen shall apply for a replacement card with the Department and pay a replacement employee identification card fee as specified in Rule 3796:5-1-01 of the Administrative Code.

Owner Badges

In addition to employees, every owner must apply for an employee identification card. If you are approaching your Certificate of Operation inspection, please be sure that owners have applied and received the badge. This is a prerequisite to receiving a Certificate of Operation.

Document Uploads

If you have uploaded the wrong document by mistake, please be sure to be responsive in a timely manner to any Department representatives who are seeking corrected documents. This will allow us to process any requests, including employee licensing, efficiently. If you have any questions, please email Licensing at mmcplicensing@com.state.oh.us
MMCP Program Status
The following is an update regarding the number of licensees that are currently in provisional license status or have obtained a Certificate of Operation:

  • Cultivators: 29 provisional licenses
  • 16 Certificates of Operation: 8 Level 1 and 8 Level 2
  • Processors: 39 provisional licenses (40 allowed by rule)
  • 2 Certificates of Operation
  • Testing laboratories: 5 provisional licenses
  • 3 Certificates of Operation
  • Dispensaries: 56 provisional licenses
  • 9 Certificates of Operation

Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee Meeting Notic e
 
The Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on April 11, 2019, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Lobby Conference Room of the Rhodes Tower.  Click here   for a copy of the meeting notice.

Sales Figures

The following are program sales totals from Jan. 16, 2019 to March 17, 2019:
  • Total sales: $2,173,990
  • Total volume of product sold: 288 lbs