Nearly two dozen Valley physicians have received the stamp of approval to recommend medical marijuana to patients across the state. 

As of now, 22 Valley doctors are certified through the Ohio Pharmacy Board and State Medical Board, with specialties ranging from anesthesiology, internal medicine, psychiatry, and family medicine. 

The list of doctors includes: 


Dr. Dharam Batish
Surgeon
East Liverpool
BIO- https://health.usnews.com/doctors/dharam-batish-726522
Dr. Dharam Batish is a surgeon in East Liverpool, Ohio and is affiliated with East Liverpool City Hospital. He received his medical degree from Government Medical College Patiala and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Batish accepts several types of health insurance, listed below. He is one of 6 doctors at East Liverpool City Hospital who specialize in Surgery.

Dr. Lindsay Benedict -- 
Anesthesiologist
Warren 
BIO--https://health.usnews.com/doctors/lindsay-benedict-859739
Dr. Lindsay Benedict is an anesthesiologist in Youngstown, Ohio and is affiliated with Trumbull Memorial Hospital. She received her medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. She is one of 14 doctors at Trumbull Memorial Hospital who specialize in Anesthesiology.


Dr. Patsy Buccino -- 
Family Medicine
Girard
BIO- https://health.usnews.com/doctors/patsy-buccino-296239
Dr. Patsy Buccino is a family medicine doctor in Girard, Ohio and is affiliated with Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. He received his medical degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He is one of 81 doctors at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital who specialize in Family Medicine.

Dr. John Dunne
Occupational Medicine
Youngstown BIO- https://health.usnews.com/doctors/john-dunne-779500
Dr. John Dunne is an occupational medicine specialist in Youngstown, Ohio. He received his medical degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Dunne accepts several types of health insurance, listed below.

Dr. Arthur Duran --
Family Medicine
Poland
BIO--https://health.usnews.com/doctors/arthur-duran-173355
Dr. Arthur Duran is a family medicine doctor in Poland, Ohio and is affiliated with Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. He received his medical degree from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Duran accepts several types of health insurance. He is one of 81 doctors at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital who specialize in Family Medicine.

Dr. Matthew Eggleston --
Critical Care Doctor 
Canfield
BIO--https://health.usnews.com/doctors/matthew-eggleston-854351
Dr. Matthew Eggleston is a critical care specialist in Youngstown, Ohio and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital and Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. He received his medical degree from Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been in practice between 6-10 years. He is one of 4 doctors at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital and one of 30 at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital who specialize in Critical Care Medicine.

Dr. Adil Jaffer --
Family Doctor 
Youngstown
BIO-- https://health.usnews.com/doctors/adil-jaffer-214329
Dr. Adil Jaffer is a family medicine doctor in Youngstown, Ohio. He received his medical degree from Medical University of Silesia and has been in practice between 11-20 years.

Dr. Rajendra Koirala --
Psychiatry
Canfield
BIO--https://health.usnews.com/doctors/rajendra-koirala-660055
Dr. Rajendra Koirala is a psychiatrist in Warren, Ohio and is affiliated with Trumbull Memorial Hospital. He received his medical degree from Tribhuvan University Inst of Medicine and has been in practice between 11-20 years. He is one of 10 doctors at Trumbull Memorial Hospital who specialize in Psychiatry.

Dr. Vincent Marino
Family Medicine
Poland
BIO-https://health.usnews.com/doctors/vincent-marino-231431
Dr. Vincent Marino is a family medicine doctor in Columbiana, Ohio and is affiliated with Trumbull Memorial Hospital. He received his medical degree from A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been in practice between 11-20 years. He is one of 22 doctors at Trumbull Memorial Hospital who specialize in Family Medicine.

Dr. Mary-Helene Massullo
Warren

Dr. Dan Miller
Family Medicine
Austintown, OH
BIO-https://health.usnews.com/doctors/daniel-miller-674112
Dr. Daniel Miller is a family medicine doctor in Austintown, Ohio. He received his medical degree from Spartan Health Sciences University and has been in practice between 11-20 years.

Dr. Russell Morrison -- 
Family Medicine Doctor 
Youngstown 
BIO--https://health.usnews.com/doctors/russell-morrison-144205
Dr. Russell Morrison is a family medicine doctor in Youngstown, Ohio and is affiliated with Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. He received his medical degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He is one of 81 doctors at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital who specialize in Family Medicine.

Dr. Robert Naples
Family Medicine, 
Cortland
BIO- https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-robert-naples-xgfp6
Dr. Robert Naples Jr, DO is a family medicine specialist in Cortland, OH. He graduated from Des Moines Univ Coll Of Osteo Med & Surg and specializes in family medicine.

Dr. Sandy Naples
Family Medicine 
Poland, OH
BIO- https://health.usnews.com/doctors/sandy-naples-173358
Dr. Sandy Naples is a family medicine doctor in Poland, Ohio and is affiliated with Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. He received his medical degree from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Naples accepts several types of health insurance, listed below. He is one of 81 doctors at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital who specialize in Family Medicine. He also speaks multiple languages, including German.

Dr. Kathleen Padgitt
Nephrology 
Youngstown, OH
BIO- https://health.usnews.com/doctors/kathleen-padgitt-259078
Dr. Kathleen Padgitt is a nephrologist in Youngstown, Ohio and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital and Mercy Health-St. Joseph Warren Hospital. She received her medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Padgitt accepts several types of health insurance, listed below. She is one of 18 doctors at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital and one of 12 at Mercy Health-St. Joseph Warren Hospital who specialize in Nephrology.


Dr. Vincent Paolone --
Psychiatry 
Boardman
BIO-- https://health.usnews.com/doctors/vincent-paolone-556063
Dr. Vincent Paolone is a psychiatrist in Youngstown, Ohio. He received his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He also speaks multiple languages, including Spanish and German.

Dr. Karipineni Prasad -- 
Psychiatry
Canfield
BIO-- https://health.usnews.com/doctors/karipineni-prasad-87760
Dr. Karipineni Prasad is a psychiatrist in Canfield, Ohio and is affiliated with Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. He received his medical degree from Rangaraya Medical College NTR and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He is one of 9 doctors at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital who specialize in Psychiatry.

Dr. Robert M. Roerich -- 
Psychiatry
Boardman
 
Dr. Mohinder Singh
Internal Medicine 
East Liverpool, OH
BIO-https://health.usnews.com/doctors/mohinder-singh-490369
Dr. Mohinder Singh is an internist in East Liverpool, Ohio and is affiliated with East Liverpool City Hospital. He received his medical degree from Government Medical College of Jammu and Kashmire and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Singh accepts several types of health insurance, listed below. He is one of 10 doctors at East Liverpool City Hospital who specialize in Internal Medicine.

Dr. Scott Tofil --
Internal Medicine
Youngstown
BIO-- https://health.usnews.com/doctors/scott-tofil-131495
Dr. Scott Tofil is an internist in Youngstown, Ohio and is affiliated with Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. He received his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He is one of 86 doctors at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital who specialize in Internal Medicine.


Dr. Zachary Veres
Family Medicine
Warren
BIO-https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-zachary-veres-2nj89
Dr. Zachary Veres, DO is a family medicine specialist in Warren, OH and has been practicing for 15 years. He graduated from At Still University Health Sciences/Kirksville College Of Osteopathic Medicine in 2003 and specializes in family medicine.

Dr. Ronald Yendrek 
Psychiatry
Warren, OH
BIO-https://health.usnews.com/doctors/ronald-yendrek-395577
Dr. Ronald Yendrek is a psychiatrist in Warren, Ohio and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Mercy Health-St. Joseph Warren Hospital and Trumbull Memorial Hospital. He received his medical degree from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He is one of 9 doctors at Mercy Health-St. Joseph Warren Hospital and one of 10 at Trumbull Memorial Hospital who specialize in Psychiatry.
**All physician biographies are courtesy of health.usnews.com. Steward Health and Mercy Health systems have not confirmed any physicians affiliation. 

Lists of additional prescribers licensed to recommend medical marijuana are expected to be released on a monthly basis as applications get approved, according to the State Medical Board. 

In order to be licensed to provide medical marijuana referrals, physicians must hold an active, unrestricted MD or DO license from the State Medical Board of Ohio.

Additionally, physicians who apply will need to complete at least two hours of continuing medical education that will assist in diagnosing qualifying conditions, treating those conditions with medical marijuana and possible drug interactions. 

Doctors will then need to renew their licenses when their license to practice as a physician or osteopathic physician is renewed or restored. For renewal, they must also complete two-hours of continuing education classes in medical marijuana annually. 

Those who to apply to become certified recommenders for medical marijuana cannot have any part in the ownership or an investment interest with medical marijuana companies, dispensaries, or cultivators. 

Certified physicians may recommend medical marijuana only for the treatment of a qualifying medical condition. 

Under Ohio law, all of the following are qualifying medical conditions:

AIDS
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Alzheimer's disease
cancer
chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Crohn's disease
epilepsy or another seizure disorder
fibromyalgia 
glaucoma
hepatitis C
inflammatory bowel disease
multiple sclerosis
pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable
Parkinson's disease
positive status for HIV
post-traumatic stress disorder
sickle cell anemia
spinal cord disease or injury
Tourette's syndrome
traumatic brain injury
ulcerative colitis

Patients who wish to use medical marijuana will need to see a certified physician who will assess the patient's need, and if deemed necessary, make a recommendation to the state officials. 

Patients who are approved will then be issued a medical marijuana card, approving them for use, consumption, and possession of certain medicinal marijuana products. 

Medicinal marijuana can only be obtained through a state authorized dispensary, and will only be offered in forms like tinctures, oils, or edibles.  

Ohio's medical marijuana program was scheduled to begin in September, however, earlier this summer state officials announced that the program would not be ready to begin by then. 

21 news has reached out to the program to see if the Department of Commerce has set a new deadline date.