05/19/2025
Ohio Medical Board Rejects Petition for New Medical Marijuana Condition, Issues Statement on IV Clinics, Loucka Returns as Executive Director
The State Medical Board of Ohio met on May 14, 2025, and rejected a proposed condition for inclusion as qualifying condition for the recommendation of medical marijuana.
As a refresher, anyone wishing to add a condition may do so annually by petitioning the Board in January. If those petitions meet the legal requirement of potentially supportive scientific evidence, or for a previously rejected condition, the offer of new potentially supportive scientific evidence, the Board will review those conditions and evidence for potential inclusion of qualifying conditions.
After review of expert third-party reports for the petition, the Board agreed with the expert report and rejected the addition of Autism Spectrum Disorder to the list of qualifying conditions. This is the 7th consecutive year that the Board has rejected ASD as a proposed qualifying condition.
There are currently 26 conditions eligible for a medical marijuana recommendation.
Additionally, the Medical Board of Ohio (joined by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy and Ohio Board of Nursing) issued a joint statement that IV therapy, which is apparently being increasingly offered throughout the state by unlicensed individuals. The statement clarifies that current law considers IV therapy to involve the practice of medicine and practitioners must follow all applicable laws, including licensure. Among other things, the statement reiterates that physician licensees must personally evaluate patients, establish a diagnosis, and issue a prescription before IV treatment.
Read the statement >
Finally, Executive Director Stephanie Loucka has returned as the chief staff member of the Board. Stephanie was initially appointed by the Board in 2019 after various stints in state and local government. OSMA looks forward to continuing our work with Ms. Loucka and the Board to improve the practice of medicine in Ohio.
If you have any questions about this or any other legal or regulatory matter, please email Sean McCullough.