HB 153 Summary

• Establishes a comprehensive medical cannabis program in Ohio allowing registered qualifying patients with debilitating medical conditions to acquire, possess, and use cannabis under physician supervision.

• Creates a registry identification card system administered by the Department of Health, with cards issued to qualifying patients, primary caregivers, and registered users; protects cardholders from arrest and criminal prosecution for authorized medical use activities.

• Allows registered qualifying patients to cultivate up to 12 mature cannabis plants and possess up to 200 grams of usable cannabis; permits registered primary caregivers to cultivate and possess cannabis on behalf of qualifying patients they serve (limited to 5 patients maximum).

• Establishes a Medical Cannabis Advisory Council composed of physicians and registered qualifying patients to provide guidance on petitions to add medical conditions to the debilitating conditions list and conduct public hearings on such petitions.

• Prohibits employers, schools, and licensing agencies from disciplinary action against cardholders for medical cannabis use; protects patients' parental and employment rights unless cannabis use creates unreasonable danger; requires law enforcement to verify registry status before initiating cannabis-related enforcement actions.