CINCINNATI -- Nearly two dozen doctors in the Greater Cincinnati area have gotten clearance to recommend medical marijuana for their patients.
The list of 23 doctors includes 17 from Cincinnati, one each from Liberty Township, West Chester Township, Springboro and Middletown, and two from Mason:
- James Bingham
- Hal Blatman
- Kalki Bommaraju
- David Ellison
- Naila Goldenberg
- Richard Goldfarb
- Allen Guehl
- Corey Hobbs
- Marcia Kaplan
- Michael Kreines
- Darcy Krueger
- Jennifer Lobert
- Michael Maloney
- Stephen MArtin
- Becky Mcgilligan
- Sanjiv Patel
- Allison Phelps
- Shayla Pullen
- William Sawyer
- Christopher South
- Zeeshan Tayeb
- Timothy Thress
- Clyde Watson
The Ohio Medical Board reviews and approves applications from doctors around the state. Tessie Pollock, a spokeswoman for the board, said more would be added to the list every month.
Doctors with active, unrestricted licenses can apply 24/7 online, Pollock said. Ohio Medical Board staff reviews the application and verifies they've completed the required two hours of continuing education in medical marijuana.
The board then takes up the applications each month.
Patients will have prescriptions filled at the 56 regulated medical marijuana dispensaries around the state. Seven of those are in southwest Ohio.
Ohio regulators said last month that medical marijuana will not be available to patients by the Sept. 8 deadline set in state law.
And as the new program has rolled out, dozens of communities have taken steps to temporarily block or ban pot-related businesses from opening.
Locally, Blue Ash, Colerain Township, Fairfield, Hamilton, Liberty Township, Sharonville and West Chester Township all have rules blocking marijuana-related businesses in their areas.
The law also bans marijuana businesses from being within 500 feet of schools, playgrounds, public libraries and churches.
