There are now 10 doctors in the Valley who will be able to recommend patients for medical marijuana. 

For the first time, one of them has explained why they sought the controversial approval. 

"Doctors can be very conservative," explained Doctor Scott Tofil, an internist in Youngstown. 

Dr. Tofil is one of the physicians certified in the tri-county area, but he says he wasn't always a proponent of medical marijuana. 

 "Initially, I started to do the research to warn my patients about the ill effects of medical marijuana," said Tofil. "But in doing the research my stance shifted 180 degrees." 

"I mean, I voted against it," said Tofil. 

But with the help of a patient, Dr. Tofil says he has seen proof of just how effective medical marijuana can be. 

He explained that a patient who he has been taking care of for eight years was suffering from several disorders and on a lengthy list of medications. 

"He went to see a P.A. doctor who does medical marijuana," said Tofil. "That was probably six weeks ago. He was back in here yesterday- he looks great." 

The inquiry of that patient, along with researching, led Dr. Tofil to the conclusion that medical marijuana is an important tool in the arsenal against chronic pain. 

"It definitely has a place, like with this guy. It's going to be a good, good treatment. I mean off of all those medicines for one. One medicine. That's awesome," he said.

And now he's hoping that he can use his research to help other patients. 

 "Anything that's been around for that long has got to be useful and safe," Tofil explained. "And you know, the more I looked into it, there are different strains, I mean who would have known. Look, I didn't do it as a kid, I don't do it now, I didn't know all that. It's the makeup of those strains that allows it to treat seizures, chronic pain, things like Alzheimer's."

Dr. Tofil explained that he hopes medical marijuana will step in to help where other options have failed. 

"These patients have chronic conditions that have been poorly handled with conventional medicines," he said. 

However, Dr. Tofil explained that not just anyone will get recommended for medical marijuana. The doctor will need to prove, not only to the State of Ohio Medical Board but also to himself, he said, that all options have been exhausted and medical marijuana is the best course of treatment. 

"And it's just like other things, you know, start at a low dose, and see how the patient does," he explained. "But even with narcotics, with any medicine, I'm going to want to know what I'm prescribing, and the possible interactions, and how it will affect the patient." 

But with the possibility of medical marijuana replacing traditional synthetic pain management methods such as opioids, Dr. Tofil says he believes this could be the next step to finding a solution for the opioid epidemic. 

"We have reward centers in the brain that light up when we take opioids. Which is why some people get hooked faster than others, because their reward centers start lighting up and they can't stop and it's a medical problem," Tofil explained. "And in marijuana's case, those centers don't light up the same way."

Dr. Tofil said that since the way opioids and marijuana react in the human brain, the chance for addiction is significantly lower, particularly if prescribed correctly. 

He told 21 News that he's hopeful that other Valley doctors will see the program and be given the proof that they need to see medical marijuana as a viable treatment option. 

"We need anecdotal proof, we need patient stories," the doctor said. He also mentioned the need for more studies and knowledge. 

But Dr. Tofil said that one of his long-term goals is changing the stigma. 

"You know there's still this idea that when we think of someone who uses marijuana it's the munchies and someone unmotivated," he said "But the studies have shown a motivated person can use medical marijuana with no loss of motivation. 

"And someday, should I need it when I'm, in 20 or 30 years, I want the medical students of today to know about it and have it be well studied so everyone feels comfortable using it."

As of now, the State of Ohio Medical Marijuana program recognizes 21 disorders and ailments that may qualify a patient for medical marijuana. Dr. Tofil said he's confident that the list will expand as the information grows. 

"The people want it," he said. "And what the people want, the people get." 

Dr. Tofil said his office will see patients with any of the 21 medical issues, as long as they are over the age of 18. 

For more information on the disorders and the other physicians in the Valley who are certified to recommend medical marijuana, click here.