Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Testing Law Could Delay Access for Patients

Ohio’s new medical marijuana law prohibits private lab testing for medical marijuana products for the first year of the program. This restricts testing to only public universities located in the state. Ohio would be the only state to require testing in this manner.

The reasoning is to ensure that the universities don’t lose federal money, according to Cincinnati.com. Universities interested in providing lab testing services will have to pay a $2,000 application fee and $18,000 to operate the testing facility. These fees are not concrete and can be changed before the program’s rules are finalized on September 8.

Rob Ryan of Ohio Patient Network said, “If there is no testing, then there is no program. We are very concerned.”

Universities wanting to participate in medical marijuana testing will have to purchase the testing equipment and security equipment. The cost is estimated at $1 million. The cost would vary depending on what equipment the university already has possession of. Concerns regarding the securing of grant money to purchase the necessary equipment have increased.

Can universities handle the volume of work that the required testing would bring? Can they ensure safety and security of the product to prevent theft? These are two very big questions that require answers.

Chris Lindsey of Marijuana Policy Project said, “There are too many unknowns to rely exclusively on learning institutions. Private labs are in better positions to respond.”

So far, there is zero interest from universities across the state to participate in medical marijuana testing.

Kerry Francis of the Ohio Department of Commerce said, “We can’t speculate as to which universities will apply.”

Representative Kirk Schuring said, “I think a higher education institution will step up. If it becomes a problem, we’ll correct it, but I don’t think it will.”

A change to the law may be required. No deadline for universities to submit applications for a testing license has been set. Not having a dedicated testing facility may delay access for patients come September.