Private Medical Marijuana labs are restricted from testing properties on the plant for one year, according to Ohio’s new law. During that time, public universities would test medical cannabis produced within the state to make sure it is safe for consumers. The problem is that no other state tests medical marijuana like this. That’s because many university officials are wary of losing money from a federal government that still labels cannabis as among the most dangerous, illegal drugs, at the same level as heroin.
Rob Ryan, executive director of the Ohio Patient Network and a Blue Ash councilman stated, “If there is no testing, then there is no program. We are very concerned.” Even if Ohio’s universities want to test medical cannabis, the cost is $2,000 for an application fee and an $18,000 fee to operate a testing lab. Those numbers could change before the rules are finalized by September. Buying testing equipment, cameras, and other tools would cost at least $1 million, depending on what the university already had in place, said Jeffrey Raber, CEO of The Werc Shop, which tests cannabis in California, Oregon, and Washington. And to buy equipment or finance lab work, professors often rely on grants, many of which come from government entities.
Other concerns include whether universities would have the capacity to handle all medical cannabis grown in Ohio or whether they can safely secure the plant to prevent theft. “There are too many unknowns to rely exclusively on learning institutions,” said Chris Lindsey, senior legislative counsel for the Marijuana Policy Project, which pursued a ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana in Ohio in 2016 but dropped the idea after lawmakers passed their plan. “Private labs are in better positions to respond.” It is unclear whether any in-state, public universities are interested in laboratory testing. At this point, officials at University of Cincinnati, Ohio State University, Cleveland State University, and Kent State University are not planning to provide laboratory testing of medical cannabis, spokespeople told The Enquirer. That could change, but universities in other states have avoided medical cannabis.
In Maryland, for example, only universities with academic medical programs were permitted to dole out cannabis. But none were interested so legislators reworked the program. University of Illinois’ Chicago campus announced in 2015 that they would start testing medical marijuana but shortly after, officials changed their minds. Kerry Francis, Ohio Department of Commerce spokeswoman stated, “We can’t speculate as to which universities will apply.” The Ohio Department of Commerce has not yet set a deadline for applications.
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