medical marijuana dispensary

Retired Rabbi Jeffrey Kahn, who owns a medical marijuana dispensary in Washington, D.C., talked to cleveland.com about Ohio's new medical marijuana law ahead of speaking at a Northeast Ohio event.

(Jackie Borchardt, cleveland.com)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The owner of Washington D.C.'s first medical marijuana dispensary has some advice for Ohioans: Expect the state's medical marijuana program to change.

Retired Reform Rabbi Jeffrey Kahn said it's taken years for the capital's program to become what it is today, and rules will evolve with scientific research, patient needs and industry changes.

"No matter how the laws and regulations seem in the beginning, some that look like they will work great won't and some that look like they won't work will," Kahn said.

Ohio lawmakers last year set up the framework for a strictly regulated medical marijuana program to serve patients with one of 20 medical conditions if recommended by a physician. Three state agencies are now determining the details, such as who will qualify to grow and sell marijuana and how much marijuana patients will be able to buy.

Kahn was a congregational rabbi for 30 years before opening a dispensary in 2013 with his wife, a former hospital administrator. Their Takoma Wellness Center is the largest dispensary in D.C., serving 1,500 patients.

Kahn will be in Cuyahoga Falls March 25 for an event sponsored by TDCANN Institute, a Northeast Ohio-based consulting firm. TDCANN founder Theresa Daniello said the event will focus on education more than how to start a marijuana business and is geared toward patients, health care professionals, law enforcement officials and community leaders.

Kahn talked with cleveland.com ahead of his Ohio visit. Here's some of what he had to say.

(Answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.)

Q: Why did you decide to open a dispensary?

A: My late father-in-law had Multiple Sclerosis for over 50 years. He spent decades seeking a cure and ways to manage his symptoms. He tried everything from snake venom to dangerous pharmaceuticals he had to go into rehab to get off of.

Until a doctor suggested cannabis. He was a Korean War vet, a guy of a generation where you might was well be suggesting heroin, and snake venom makes a lot more sense. But he took it, and it improved his muscle spasms and his attitude toward living with the disease.

I also was active with the AIDS community in the 1980s and 1990s and learned many patients found relief from their symptoms with cannabis.

Q: The program was new in D.C. in 2013. Did you encounter push back from the community?

A: It was hard at the beginning find somebody who would even talk to us about renting a space and to get our neighbors on board. We spent over a year hosting seminars and community gatherings and teaching people what we were planning to do and what the benefits were.

We spent a lot of time trying to break down the stigma around cannabis. There's so much misconception, so many erroneous opinions, so many fears and concerns. We knew they were unfounded and now, looking back, we can prove it.

Folks in our community are very happy and proud we're here, and they no longer have any concerns about increased crime or unsavory characters in the community.

Q: The Ohio State Pharmacy Board recently recommended patients be limited to 6 ounces of plant material every 90 days, roughly equivalent to D.C.'s initial 2 ounce per 30 day limit. Was that adequate?

A: That was more than enough for two-thirds of patients. But patients with severe pain often ran out before the month and turned to the street or opiates to hold them over.

D.C. recently doubled the limit to 4 ounces every 30 days. It took us two years to change that. It's hard to put those limits in place when we're learning so much all the time.

Q: Last week, more than 70 clergy members from Richland County, in between Columbus and Cleveland, signed a letter against medical marijuana businesses operating in their area. How does your faith square with your business?

A: Faith is an important part of why we do what we do.

From a Jewish perspective, it's important not to suffer if suffering can be prevented. Nothing in the Bible tells us to avoid medicine, and I think we've got enough evidence now that cannabis is a good thing, not a bad thing.

The Bible is pretty clear -- God created all the plants on the third day for man to use. There's no cannabis exception in the Bible. But as with anything that has addictive qualities, we need to be careful with it.