Backroad Wellness - Ohio Medical Marijuana Purchase Limits

The medical marijuana industry in Ohio is tightly regulated by the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program (OMMCP). OMMCP regulates who qualifies for a medical marijuana card, the acceptable forms of cannabis consumption, as well as the purchasing of medical marijuana products. The regulation of purchases is complex and there are various limitations such as daily unit minimums that differ for each form of cannabis product. Additionally, OMMCP limits medical marijuana cards to year-long registrations that are broken up first into four 90-day supply cycles and then into eight 45-day fill periods.

Whole Day Unit

In order to understand the regulations on purchasing medical marijuana in Ohio, it's important to first understand the concept of the Whole Day unit. Currently, the Ohio Administrative Code states, “A patient and a patient’s caregiver(s) may collectively purchase no less than a whole day unit at a single time...” The code defines the whole day unit differently for each authorized form of medical marijuana:

Marijuana products are assigned a “Day Unit” value which is subtracted from your 45-day supply at the time of purchase. This is calculated by dividing the purchased quantity by the “Day Unit'' for that form of product. For example:

If you were to purchase 14.15 grams of flower it would use five “Day Units” of your 45-day supply; 14.5 grams (purchased) divided by 2.83 (“Day Unit”) is equal to 5 (days). A purchase of 5.66 grams of flower would use two “Day Units” of your 45-day supply; 5.66 grams (purchased) divided by 2.83 (“Day Unit”) is equal to 2 (days).

90-Day Supply and 45-Day Fill Period Purchasing and Possession Limits

Ohio Administrative Code currently limits patient and caregiver possession of medical marijuana to a 90-day supply stating, “A patient and the patient’s caregiver(s) may collectively purchase no more than a ninety-day supply in accordance with the two forty-five-day fill period process… Ninety whole day units, aggregated across forms purchased, shall constitute a ninety-day supply of medical marijuana…” A ninety-day supply is defined as

As of April 2020, OMMCP splits the 90-day supplies into two 45-day fill periods. During each 45-day fill period, a patient or caregiver may not purchase more than a 45-day supply (half of the 90-day supply.) At any point during the 45-day fill period, a patient may purchase up to the 45-day supply limit. If a patient does not purchase a full 45-day supply before the end of the period, the remainder does not roll over to the next fill period. If a patient has purchased their full 45-day supply, they may not buy more until the next fill period begins.

 Terminal Illness

Terminally ill patients and their caregivers are allowed an additional five days’ supply during each 45-day supply period. The Ohio Administrative Code defines a 90-day supply for terminally ill patients as:

Additional Resources

The Ohio supply limitations are complicated even for seasoned medical marijuana patients. The Ohio Medical Marijuana Registry keeps a purchase summary for patients however, the information is not always in real-time. OMMCP also provides a Patient Fill Period Calculator to assist dispensary employees and patients in calculating the patient’s fill period. Additionally, the professionals at your nearest Backroad Wellness location have a thorough understanding of purchase limits and fill periods and are here to assist with any questions you may have.

Bring your OMMCP card and your government ID to Backroad Wellness

Our mission is to welcome and educate our local community and give you a fresh choice for your medical cannabis experience!