COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Advocates are raising concerns over the length of time it will take Ohio’s medical board to draft rules governing how doctors can recommend to patients they use medical marijuana.

The medical board met Wednesday for the first time since the new medical marijuana law took effect and says it plans to study laws and practices in other states before drafting Ohio’s regulations.

The medical board has a September 2017 deadline for establishing rules for physicians. Ohioans for Medical Marijuana spokesman Aaron Marshall says advocates want the board to act sooner.

Marshall says those who need the drug therapeutically are “seriously ill people” who should know how to defend themselves in court if caught with marijuana before the state’s physician rules are established.