Ohio Governor John Kasich waits to speak during an event at the National Press Club Nov. 17, 2015, in Washington. | Getty Kasich legalizes medical marijuana in Ohio

Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a medical marijuana legalization bill into law on Wednesday, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

The former Republican presidential candidate's penmanship makes Ohio the 26th state in the nation to legalize marijuana use for medical purposes. Kasich has said he would like children with certain medical conditions to be able to relieve their pain through cannabis use.


The state legislature approved the plan in May, according to the Enquirer. It will go into effect in three months. Ohioans will need a physician's recommendation to legally use the drug. At first, they'll have to buy from other states where it's legal until commercial cultivators have time to set up and grow in Ohio. Only vaporizers, edibles and oils are allowed — smoking marijuana is still illegal.

Only people with certain conditions — like AIDS, cancer, PTSD and epilepsy — can qualify. And Ohioans can still be fired for marijuana use even if they get a doctor's recommendation.