Approximately 20% of Ohio adults live with some kind of mental illness. That includes bipolar disorder, which affects around 2.8% of American adults. For some, medical marijuana is an attractive treatment option thanks to its mood-boosting, nerve-calming effects. But can you get a medical card for Bipolar in Ohio?
Not necessarily. Medical marijuana is legal in Ohio for certain conditions, but bipolar is not among them. Here’s what you should know.
Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana in Ohio
In September 2016, the Ohio Legislature legalized the use of medical marijuana in the state with House Bill 523, becoming the 25th state to do so. Lawmakers in Ohio passed the bill following mounting pressure from medical patients in the state as well as growing support for a constitutional voter initiative organized by the cannabis advocacy group, Ohioans for Medical Marijuana. The law officially went into effect two years later, in September 2018.
The original version of House Bill 523 restricted resident use of medical marijuana in Ohio to a 90-day supply of a limited range of products, including marijuana plants, infused foods and drinks, and extracts. The bill legalized vaping raw cannabis but prohibited traditional smoking. Additionally, House Bill 523 stipulated 26 specific medical conditions that would qualify residents for a medical marijuana card in Ohio. Among those qualifying conditions are:
- AIDS and/or positive HIV status
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cachexia
- Cancer
- Inflammatory digestive diseases such as Chron’s, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome
- Cancer
- Encephalopathy
- Fibromyalgia
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- Huntington’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Chronic, severe, or intractable pain
- Parkinson’s disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Sickle cell anemia
- Spasticity
- Spinal cord disease
- Terminal illnesses
- Tourette’s
House Bill 523 also legalized medical marijuana for many serious injuries, especially those affecting the brain and spinal cord. To obtain a medical marijuana card in Ohio, residents must have an official diagnosis of a qualifying condition and a recommendation from a physician, following an in-person examination. The recommending physician must be licensed in the state of Ohio and certified by the state medical board. Additionally, the recommending physician must be the patient’s primary medical caregiver
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So Can You Get a Medical Marijuana Card for Bipolar in Ohio in 2024?
The answer is no — bipolar disorder is not among the 26 qualifying medical conditions outlined in House Bill 523.
While you can’t get a medical card for bipolar disorder in Ohio, people with bipolar may be eligible for a medical marijuana card in Ohio if they also have another condition or disease that qualifies according to state law. Some of the qualifying conditions commonly co-occur with bipolar disorder, including:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): In some cases, manic episodes that characterize bipolar disorder can have a traumatic effect on patients, leading to symptoms of PTSD, according to studies. This is especially true of patients who have not received an official bipolar diagnosis and are unaware that they have the condition.
- Tourette’s syndrome: A neurodevelopment condition that manifests and vocal and motor tics, Tourette’s often co-occurs with a range of physiological disorders, including bipolar disorder. However, the co-occurrence is most common in children with Tourette’s.
- Eating disorders: Bipolar often occurs along with certain disorders, such as cachexia, also known as “wasting syndrome.” If you have bipolar that’s related to this condition, you may be eligible for a medical marijuana card in Ohio.
The Effects of Cannabis on Bipolar
The connection between bipolar disorder and cannabis has not been definitively charted. However, several studies show multiple links between marijuana use and bipolar. There is some evidence that links marijuana use with the onset of bipolar disorder.
Medical marijuana is not a recognized treatment for bipolar disorder, but studies indicate that many people with the condition use cannabis as a form of self-medication for bipolar symptoms. Generally, this is because the well-known sedative and anti-depressant effects of THC may be helpful during the dueling states of bipolar. As an anti-depressant, some patients turn to marijuana to relieve symptoms or occurrences of depressive episodes. Others may use it during manic episodes for its calming properties.
Schedule an Appointment with a Medical Marijuana Doctor in Ohio Today!
Around 82% of people with bipolar disorder experience serious related impairments that keep them from living life to the fullest. If you live with bipolar disorder and you’re wondering if you can get a medical marijuana card for bipolar in Ohio, Green Health Docs can connect you with a licensed medical marijuana doctor. Schedule an in-person visit or, where allowed, a virtual appointment to get your medical marijuana questions answered today.
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.