HOWLAND, Ohio - As medical marijuana in Ohio gets off the ground some are quickly learning the cost to use the drug is a high price to pay.

One major problem is none of the process is covered by insurance.

Because no insurance will cover the cost of medical marijuana you must first visit a doctor like John Dunne, MD, Occupational Medicine Specialist at Ohio Sports and Spine.

Dr. Dunne attending a two-hour training course to become certified by the State of Ohio to recommend patients he feels should be eligible for medical marijuana use. 

Remember since there is no insurance coverage your doctors visit will be the first cost you will incur.  "By and large what I've seen is there's a $200 fee for the first time registrant, and after that they may go down to maybe $150 for any additional medical visits," Dr. Dunne said.

Some who participate in the plan believe you have to be evaluated by a physician every three months, but Dr. Dunne says that's not necessarily the case.

"Here's how it works the initial evaluation and you qualify the patient for three months.  But you may also provide three refills of 90 days each so they can have up to 365 days coverage after just one initial evaluation," Dr. Dunne said.

You will have to pay a $50 fee to qualify as a medical marijuana patient once you receive an email, and then fill out the information in the email and return it to register with the state.

Dr. Dunne says however several groups are exempt from that $50 fee, "Unless they are indigent or a Veteran and then the state waives their fee."

And while the cost of just one ounce of cannabis is about $500 in Ohio, one medical marijuana user we talked to says he paid $50
for 2.83 grams for a two-day supply that could last him two weeks.

Colton Osburn of Warren who has chronic pain and has been recommended cannabis says, "Their prices are still a little bit high and they're still kind of limited (on what they offer).  But I think once they get the ball rolling all the systems in place the prices should come down."