Need medical marijuana? Sandusky company can help you legally get some

SANDUSKY — The aches and pains punished his back.His depression didn't dissipate.And the insomnia drove him insane.Sandusky resident Ron Marvicsin experienced extreme discomfort on a daily basis.Up until recently, and like millions of Americans, he couldn't find the right remedy to cure or really temporarily alleviate his agony.He simply just dealt with the excruciating irritation tormenting him all day, every day."I exhausted all avenues," Marvicsin said. "I've used so many prescription medications to help with my situation, and I just couldn't do it anymore."Marijuana as medicineFed up with the available recovery options, Marvicsin learned about a new medical center opening this past May within Sandusky Plaza on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6).He scheduled an appointment with Alternative Medicine Centers of America.In short, State of Ohio Medical board-approved physicians working there can provide patients with recommendations to purchase medical marijuana at legal dispensaries. They cannot buy medical marijuana directly from the Sandusky center.It's allowed because the Ohio Legislature in 2016 approved House Bill 523, which set guidelines for a statewide medical marijuana program. Gov. John Kasich also signed the bill.Still in its infancy stage, not many centers exist in Ohio. Luckily for Marvicsin, one operates from his hometown. There are no other such locations, whether affiliated or in direct competition with Alternative Medicine Centers of America, a for-profit business, within an hour's drive of Sandusky.Ron Marvicsin signs paperwork to renew his letter of defense for medical marijuana at Alternative Medicine in Sandusky on Tuesday, August 15, 2017. After reviewing an individual's medical history, which includes a screening, an Alternative Medicine professional provides a diagnosis. The doctor then determines whether a specific patient can obtain the legal paperwork and identification card to purchase medical marijuana.Marvicsin received a recommendation because his chronic back pain falls on a state-approved short list of 20 specific conditions qualifying for medical marijuana treatments."You can't just come in and say you have pain," according to a company statement. "It has to be very specific. It can't be vague."Since medical marijuana dispensaries don't exist in Ohio yet — expect to see 24 of them pop up across the state as soon as mid-2018 — local patients must make an hour-plus drive to Michigan for their medicine. Dispensaries in the Wolverine State accept medical marijuana recommendations coming from Sandusky's Alternative Medicine Centers of America."It's been shown that medical marijuana is the natural and healthiest way to treat people," said Marvicsin, whose among those driving to Michigan so he can get medical marijuana.Marvicsin's doctor doubled down on the statement."I have dealt with pain management and used acupuncture for 20 years, and medical marijuana is incredible in how it treats people, and it has many benefits for the patients using them," said Dr. Susan Graham, a head physician at Alternative Medicine Centers of America.Among the many positives, according to Graham: States allowing medical cannabis have 25 percent fewer fatal overdose rates compared to states prohibiting the drug."People who can get medical marijuana are not going out and getting heroin on the streets," Graham said. "At the very least, they should explore the option and talk to their family doctors about this. But, to be honest, a lot of family doctors aren't comfortable about recommending this. But it's worth coming in here to see what we are doing."Alternative Medicine Dr. Susan Graham asks Ron Marvicsin about his symptoms to approve him for a medical marijuana recommendation on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 in Sandusky. Give it a chanceArthur Hall just might be the biggest advocate for medical marijuana treatments.It's not because Hall serves as director of the PAO (Physicians Against Opiates) Group, a publicly traded Sandusky-based company. Known as PAOG in the stock market, it's also the parent company of Alternative Medicine Centers of America.In addition to Sandusky, the company also recently opened a center near Cleveland with plans to debut facilities in Toledo, Dayton and Akron. There are also several affiliated locations in Florida.But Hall himself suffers from Parkinson's, another of the 20 qualifying conditions to receive a medical marijuana recommendation in Ohio."I don't smoke marijuana recreationally. I don't like the stuff. I actually hate it," Hall said. "But I use it because I am able to live my life again. At one point in my life, I couldn't hold a drink without spilling it. Now when you see me, I barely have a tremor."People can't legally smoke medical marijuana in Ohio. In fact, a recommendation coming from Alternative Medicine Centers of America doles only allows people to consume this substance in the form of oils, tinctures, vapors, patches and edibles.Hall stresses it's about the safest method possible to consume."There have been no marijuana overdoses in the last 10 years. None," Hall said. "If you are tired of opiates and tired of dealing with your pain, because the opiates didn't take care of it, give us a try."A sign near Cleveland Road points to the Alternative Medicine Centers of America location in Sandusky on Tuesday, August 15, 2017. Want to learn more?To learn more about Alternative Medicine Centers of America:• Visit the center at 1180 Cleveland Road in the Sandusky Plaza behind Health & Strength Gym• Call 419-871-0275An initial appointment to see the doctor costs $300, and renewals total $75. A recommendation expires every three months from the issue date.Tucked behind the Sandusky Plaza on Cleveland Road, a clinic, Alternative Medicine, offers recommendation certificates for medical marijuana. At a glance: Alternative Medicine Centers of America• A new medical center in Sandusky writes recommendations for medical marijuana to patients with one of 20 qualifying health conditions.• These recommendations allow people to purchase medical marijuana at dispensaries today in Michigan and when they open in Ohio, which should occur sometime next year.• This is the only medical center within an hour's drive of Sandusky where people can receive these recommendations.Conditions qualifying for medical marijuana in Ohio:• AIDS/HIV• Alzheimer's• ALS• Cancer• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative disease most commonly found in football players and other athletes in contact sports• Crohn's• Epilepsy or another seizure disorder• Fibromyalgia• Glaucoma• Hepatitis C• Inflammatory bowel disease• Multiple sclerosis• Pain, either chronic, severe or intractable• Parkinson's• PTSD• Sickle cell anemia• Spinal cord disease or injury• Tourette's• Traumatic brain injury• Ulcerative colitisReach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.