With recent polls showing increasing support for both medical marijuana legalization and insurance coverage, Ohio’s stance on marijuana is once again in the spotlight. On August 6, 2024, Ohio began permitting the sale of recreational marijuana, but many patients and medical professionals agree that medical marijuana remains the best choice for chronic pain sufferers, especially when it comes to affordability, coverage, and patient-specific benefits. In addition, medical marijuana cardholders enjoy several advantages over recreational users, including lower taxes and higher purchase limits.
Let’s explore why both pain patients and doctors advocate for these measures and why securing a medical marijuana card is still essential in Ohio.
Widespread Support Among Patients and Doctors for Legalization
A recent study by the American Medical Association (AMA) revealed strong support among chronic pain patients and physicians for the national legalization of medical marijuana. According to the survey, 71% of chronic pain patients and 59% of doctors believe in federally legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. In Ohio, this resonates with the state’s population, where over 3.5 million people suffer from chronic pain conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and migraines.
This support isn’t limited to patients alone. Physicians who regularly treat pain patients are witnessing the therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana firsthand, making them vocal proponents of making the treatment more accessible. Most importantly, both groups are calling for insurance providers to cover medical marijuana, which would alleviate the out-of-pocket costs that many patients currently face.
Why Medical Marijuana Remains the Right Choice for Pain Patients
Medical marijuana offers a promising alternative for chronic pain patients, providing relief without the harsh side effects or addictive properties of opioids and over-the-counter pain relievers. Recent studies show significant improvements in pain levels, sleep quality, mood, and social functioning for patients using medical marijuana. Many chronic pain sufferers find traditional medications inadequate, but medical marijuana enhances their quality of life.
Dispensaries in Ohio offer products high in CBD and low in THC, maximizing pain relief while minimizing psychoactive effects. This tailored approach allows patients to manage pain sustainably without risking impairment. Both patients and doctors favor medical marijuana due to its low side effect profile compared to the risks associated with opioids and NSAIDs.
Why Insurance Coverage Is Essential for Patients in Ohio
Cost remains a significant barrier to medical marijuana access, as most insurance providers do not cover it, classifying it as an out-of-pocket expense. As its role in chronic pain management gains recognition, the question of affordability becomes increasingly relevant.
A recent AMA study found that 64% of patients and 51% of physicians support insurance coverage for medical marijuana. For patients on limited incomes, the ongoing expense of high-quality, medical-grade marijuana products can be prohibitive, unlike prescription drugs that might be covered or discounted. Insurance coverage would ensure equitable access to effective pain management solutions for all income levels, easing the financial strain on long-term users.
By providing coverage, insurers could enable chronic pain patients to focus on their health rather than costs, potentially leading to better treatment adherence, higher patient satisfaction, and improved outcomes.
Why Ohioans Should Still Get a Medical Marijuana Card
With recreational marijuana now available, some might question the need for a medical card. However, in Ohio, a medical marijuana card offers tangible advantages that recreational access doesn’t provide:
Lower Overall Costs: Medical marijuana in Ohio is exempt from the recreational tax, making it more affordable for long-term treatment.
Higher Purchase and Possession Limits: Medical patients have higher allowances for purchase and possession than recreational users, which is particularly beneficial for those needing larger amounts to manage chronic symptoms.
Specialized Products: Ohio dispensaries prioritize medically approved strains and formulations that are ideal for specific health conditions, including chronic pain. Recreational options may not offer the same variety or specificity.
Consistent Access: While recreational dispensaries are growing, many of Ohio’s dispensaries still cater solely to medical patients, ensuring they maintain priority access to products, even in times of high demand.
Safety and Education: Medical dispensaries provide product guidance and information specifically for patients, allowing them to make informed decisions based on health needs, product potency, and optimal dosing.
Summary
Ohio’s decision to open recreational dispensaries in 2024 marks a progressive step for marijuana accessibility. Yet for the thousands of Ohioans suffering from chronic pain, medical marijuana remains the right choice. Offering targeted strains, lower taxes, and higher purchase limits, medical marijuana offers benefits uniquely suited to the needs of chronic pain patients.
The next logical step for Ohio is to advocate for insurance coverage of medical marijuana. By doing so, Ohio could significantly improve the quality of life for chronic pain patients, making medical marijuana both an accessible and financially feasible option for all. For now, patients are encouraged to maintain their medical marijuana card, as it provides them with access to cost-effective, high-quality products tailored specifically to their needs.
In Ohio, the journey toward accessible marijuana continues, with the hope that soon, everyone will be able to access the best treatments for their pain without financial barriers.
Get Your Medical Marijuana Card Today!
Ohio continues to expand its medical marijuana program and make residents’ lives easier by passing new progressive legislation. The addition of new qualifying conditions means that many more people will now be eligible for their medical card.
If you think you could benefit from medical marijuana, there is a good chance you qualify!
You need your medical card to access any of Ohio’s medical dispensaries. Not to worry, because it is now easier than ever to get your card with Ohio Marijuana Card!
In Ohio, there are many conditions that may make you eligible for medical marijuana, and we hope the program continues to expand by adding more conditions soon! If you have questions about whether you qualify, we can help with that too!
In order to visit a dispensary in the State of Ohio, you will need your medical marijuana card. With telemedicine, you can even get your card from the comfort of your own home!
If you don’t already have your card, we can help! You can even have your appointment and recommendation on the same day!
Schedule an appointment with one of our physicians today to see if you qualify.
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
Here at Ohio Marijuana Card, our goal is to help everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
If you have any questions, call us at (866) 457-5559, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!