Partial legalization of medical cannabis (2016) [ edit ] In June 2016, Governor  John Kasich  signed House Bill 523, which permits the  medical use of marijuana  in some cases. The bill, sponsored by state Representative Stephen Huffman, was approved by an 18-15 vote in the  state Senate  and by an 67-29 vote in the  state House . [7] The bill sets up a  rulemaking  process under which a "state-run or licensed system of growing facilities, testing labs, physician certification, patient registration, processors, and retail dispensaries" will be established; the process could take up to two years. [7] [8]  The statute "requires the system to be fully operational by September 2018," with the  Ohio Department of Commerce  to make rules for cultivators by May 6, 2017, to issue rules and regulations for cultivators, and the remainder of rules to be promulgated by October 2017. [9]  In the interim, however, "patients w...