If lawmakers pass the bill, and an approved doctor recommends it, patients could buy medical marijuana for treatment in Ohio within the next two years.

The Ohio Medical Marijuana Task Force will introduce a bill this week to legalize medical marijuana in the state.

If lawmakers pass the bill, and an approved doctor recommends it, patients could buy medical marijuana for treatment in Ohio within the next two years.

Within the proposal, legislators say the Ohio Department of Health will oversee a Medical Marijuana Control Commission. The nine member commission will have to adopt rules and regulations within one year of the bill’s passage.

Lawmakers say the bill will allow medical marijuana in the form of edibles, patches, plant materials and oils. Homegrown marijuana will not be legal.

A member of the Ohio Medical Marijuana Task Force, Representative Kirk Schuring, said in the bill there will be workplace protections and rules for local dispensaries.

He said only physicians licensed under the state medical board will be able to recommend medical marijuana to their patients.

"This is a very transparent program we're talking about here,” Rep. Schuring said. “Physicians who want to recommend medical marijuana to their patients again would have to report every 90 days on the ailment, the type of medical marijuana they have recommended. At the end of the day we feel that the market will drive it.”

Ohio families in support of legalizing medical marijuana say they’re happy some of their voices are being heard. Dana Kovach says she’s relieved the discussion has turned into action.

"The fact that they listened, I just can't explain it,” she said.

For 13 years Kovach has been vocal. She showed up at the statehouse Tuesday, thanking the Ohio Medical Marijuana Task Force for their work in introducing a bill to legalize pot for medical use.

Her teenage son, CJ, was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric cancer at age 3.

"I mean to watch your child suffer, unnecessarily because he's built up such a tolerance to these drugs over the past 13 years, it's just, it's Christmas for us today,” Kovach said.

CJ could be prescribed medical marijuana for his pain within the next two years in Ohio, if lawmakers pass a bill to legalize it.

"It just means that finally our voices have been heard, finally our children are going to have relief, no more seizures, no more pain,” Kovach said.

Members of the Ohio Medical Marijuana Task Force will introduce a bill this week to legalize pot for medical use. Legislators want the bill signed by the governor before June, and before the November election.

"To the folks that are still pursuing ballot initiatives, this has not been a stall tactic, this is an issue to which we've taken very seriously,” Representative Cliff Rosenberger said.

Volunteers with Ohioans for Medical Marijuana started petitioning for signatures last week to get their own measure on the November ballot. Officials with the group said Wednesday, they will still move forward with their initiative plans.

The Drug Free Action Alliance opposes medical marijuana legalization. Officials said if legalization comes to the state, they would rather see a bill than a ballot measure.