Marijuana plants are seen in an indoor cultivation in Montevideo December 6, 2013. Uruguay’s senate will vote on December 10 to create a government body to control the cultivation and sale of marijuana and allow residents to grow it at home or as part of smoking clubs. The use of marijuana is already legal in […]

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – Governor John Kasich has signed a bill that will legalize medical marijuana in Ohio.

The measure cleared the Ohio Senate by just three votes, and the House followed by OK’ing Senate changes 67-28.

The proposal, which Kasich had not committed to signing, would bar patients from smoking marijuana or growing it at home, but it would allow its use in vapor form for certain chronic health conditions.

It garnered both support and opposition among Republicans and Democrats. Supporters recalled emotional testimony from chronic pain sufferers and parents of sick children as influencing their decisions to support the legislation.

The bill was sent to the governor’s desk earlier in the day.

Also signed Wednesday were five other bills including a measure that creates a confidentiality program for victims of domestic violence, stalking, rape and other crimes.

The bill will go into effect in 90 days.