Medical Patient vs. Adult-Use Customer in Ohio: What’s the Difference?

Older adult reviewing a medical cannabis tincture bottle alongside a close-up of a person smoking a cannabis preroll, illustrating different cannabis consumption methods

With adult-use cannabis now available in Ohio, many people wonder whether keeping a medical marijuana card still makes sense. Understanding the differences can help you decide what’s right for your situation.

Who Qualifies

Medical patients:

  • Must have a qualifying condition
  • Require physician certification
  • Maintain an active Ohio medical card

Adult-use customers:

  • Must be 21+
  • Only need a valid government-issued ID

Pricing and Taxes

Medical patients typically receive:

  • Lower or reduced taxes
  • Access to medical-only discounts

Adult-use customers pay standard state cannabis taxes.

Product Access

Medical patients may have access to:

  • Higher potency products
  • Certain medical-only formulations
  • Larger purchase limits over time

Adult-use customers have clearly defined per-transaction limits.

Purchase Limits

Medical patients benefit from rolling purchase windows, while adult-use customers follow per-visit limits set by Ohio law.

Which Option Is Right for You?

A medical card may still be worth it if you:

  • Use cannabis regularly
  • Manage a qualifying condition
  • Want lower long-term costs
  • Prefer access to higher-strength products

Adult use is ideal for casual or occasional consumers.

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