Gov. John Kasich Signs Ohio Medical Marijuana Bill Into Law

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Governor John Kasich signed the medical marijuana bill into law along with other bills on Wednesday.

Ohio will be the 25th state to pass medical marijuana. The new law will prohibit smoking or growing pot at home but will allow other forms such as oils, vapors and patches to be dispensed through state-regulated dispensaries.

The medical marijuana bill aka House Bill 523 was fast-tracked in an effort to prevent the issue from appearing on the ballot this coming November.

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wkyc.com breaks down the details on the new medical marijuana law below.

What's in the medical marijuana legalization plan?

• Adults could buy and use oil, tinctures, plant material, edibles and patches with a doctor's recommendation. Parents could purchase these products for their children younger than 18 with a doctor's referral.

• The Ohio Department of Commerce would oversee those who grow, process and test medical marijuana. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy would register patients and caregivers and license dispensaries. The Ohio State Medical Board would handle certificates for doctors who want to recommend marijuana.

• A program to reduce the cost of medical marijuana for veterans and others too poor to pay.

• The ability to purchase medical marijuana from other states while Ohio sets up its program. This would expire 60 days after the pharmacy board establishes its rules.

• Legal medical marijuana for people with these conditions: AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cancer, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Crohn's disease, epilepsy or another seizure disorder, glaucoma, hepatitis C, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, pain that is chronic, severe, or intractable, Parkinson's disease, positive status for HIV, posttraumatic stress disorder, sickle cell anemia, spinal cord disease or injury, Tourette's syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and ulcerative colitis.

What's not in the plan?

• Smoking medical marijuana

• Growing medical marijuana at home

• Any details on who could grow marijuana commercially. That would be determined later by the Ohio Department of Commerce.

• Any requirement that pharmacists oversee dispensaries.

• Protections for employees fired from their jobs because they used medical marijuana.

The medical marijuana program should be fully functional in two years.