Can You Get a Medical Card for ADHD in Ohio in 2024?

Photo by Mohan Reddy

Can you get a medical card for ADHD in Ohio in 2024? The state of Ohio legalized cannabis for medical use in 2016 thanks to Ohio House Bill 523, but what does that law have to say about ADHD?

If you live in Ohio, have ADHD, and have been considering trying to get a medical card to help you treat your symptoms, there are a few things you should know first. This article has all of the information you’ve been looking for, including a list of diseases that qualify for a medical marijuana card in Ohio, so keep reading.

Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana in Ohio

Ohio House Bill 523 introduced medical marijuana to Ohio residents in 2016. When the bill was passed, medical cannabis became legal for Ohio residents as long as it was taken to treat certain approved medical conditions. Those conditions include:

• AIDS
• Alzheimer’s
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS
• Cachexia, or “wasting away”
• Cancers
• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
• Chronn’s disease
• Epilepsy or other seizure disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• Huntington’s disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease or IBD
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• PTSD
• Sickle cell anemia
• Spasticity
• Spinal cord diseases or injuries
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Traumatic brain injury
• Colitis

In Ohio, you can also obtain a medical marijuana card if you have a disease that causes severe, chronic, or intractable pain, or any condition that is considered a terminal illness.

So Can You Get a Medical Card for ADHD in Ohio?

Can you get a medical card for ADHD in Ohio? Unfortunately, no. The state does not include ADHD on its list of approved medical conditions, so you won’t be able to get a prescription for cannabis to help you manage the symptoms of ADHD if you live in Ohio.

That said, there is at least one disease on Ohio’s list of qualifying conditions that overlap with conditions that can often develop in people who have ADHD. Tourette’s Syndrome is often associated with ADHD, especially in children, and can be a condition that follows them into adulthood. If your ADHD has developed into Tourette’s Syndrome, you may be able to obtain a medical marijuana card.

The Links Between Cannabis and ADHD

It isn’t easy to say exactly how cannabis affects ADHD. There have been studies into the issue but they haven’t revealed concrete information regarding how marijuana and ADHD are related and whether cannabis use is good for people with ADHD or not. A few studies leave scientists optimistic about the prospects of using cannabis to treat ADHD, as they show that symptoms could be temporarily relieved or lessened.

However, other studies show that cannabis use could worsen the symptoms of marijuana. People who have used cannabis and are living with ADHD could experience a heightened degree of their ADHD symptoms. Those symptoms include:

• Moodiness
• Forgetfulness
• Risk-taking
• Talkativeness
• Difficulty making decisions

There’s also a possibility that marijuana use could be particularly dangerous for your health if you have ADHD, especially if you take a medication containing a stimulant called methylphenidate. In certain studies, methylphenidate has been shown to mix poorly with marijuana and the combination can put extra stress on the heart, leading to cardiovascular problems.

Schedule an Appointment with a Medical Marijuana Doctor in Ohio Today!

If you live in Ohio, it’s your legal right to use medical marijuana as part of your treatment for a range of serious diseases. But it isn’t always easy to know which diseases are eligible and which aren’t. If you have questions, it’s time that you speak with a medical marijuana doctor. Only a qualified medical professional can answer your questions about whether and how you could use a medical marijuana card to treat your medical condition.

At Green Health Docs, we’re connecting patients all over the country with the powers of medical marijuana. From helping you obtain a card to helping you track down a local dispensary — plus understanding the laws and regulations around the issue where you live. If you aren’t sure whether your conditions qualify or you have questions about the process, set up an appointment to talk with one of our doctors today to find the answers you need.

We’re doctors who believe that medical marijuana can help you live a better life. Connect with us today to learn how.

This article has been reviewed by Dr. Anand Dugar, an anesthesiologist, pain medicine physician and the founder of Green Health Docs. Graduating from medical school in 2004 and residency in 2008, Dr. Dugar has been a licensed physician for almost 20 years and has been leading the push for medical cannabis nationwide.