Restore Compassionate Care

Restore Compassionate Care is open for business and accepting new patients for the recommendation of medical marijuana. This newly formed practice is owned by Dr. Rajendra P. Koirala who is dual board certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine and was the area's first doctor to become certified to recommend medical marijuana/cannabis. The office is conveniently located in Youngstown, Ohio on Boardman Canfield Road in the South Bridge Executive Park Buildings. It is near the intersection of Route 224 and West Blvd, near Huntington Bank and close to Dunkin Donuts.  

Dr. Koirala is seeing patients of all ages. He will evaluate minors under the age of 18 with consent from the parent/caregiver. There is an additional process for the evaluation of children. Therefore, caregivers should first contact the office for a phone consultation to learn about this process. Dr. Koirala takes a serious, yet compassionate, approach with patients and looks forward to helping his patients achieve healthier, happier lives. He spends the necessary one on one time with patients to make sure their individual needs and goals are addressed. After completing his assessment and evaluation, he will design a treatment plan to address each patient's individual needs. 

Restore Compassionate Care is dedicated to providing the quality, compassionate care that patients deserve. Dr. Koirala and his supportive staff take pride in holding their standards high and setting the bar. They believe in taking a holistic approach to physical and mental health and love helping patients gain a sense of wellness. They are passionate about what they do and believe in the alternative therapeutic benefits provided by cannabis.

Initial Process:

Patients must have one or more of Ohio's qualifying medical conditions in order to receive a recommendation for medical marijuana. They will need to contact their treating or diagnosing physician to obtain current medical records documenting their condition. The full medical record is not required. Patients with a qualifying condition will then need to contact the office to receive their free phone consultation. After their consultation, they will be given an appointment with Dr. Koirala for a recommendation for medical marijuana. Patients will leave the office the day of their appointment with their written recommendation from Dr. Koirala and an Affirmative Defense Photo ID Card.

Latest Update on Ohio's Affirmative Defense:

As a way to protect patients, parents and guardians of minor patients, and caregivers who seek to use marijuana prior to the creation and implementation of all the administrative rules necessary to run the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program, Section 6 of House Bill 523 gives them an "Affirmative Defense" against criminal liability for medical marijuana. In order to raise an affirmative defense, patients must receive a written recommendation from his or her doctor stating that certifies a certain number of criteria are met. The doctor writing the recommendation must be Certified to Recommend in the State of Ohio.

The registry was originally set to open on September 8, 2018. However, it has been delayed. We are doing our best to keep patients updated as we receive new information. On July 19th, 2018, the Board of Pharmacy announced that once the patient and caregiver registry opens, the affirmative defense will continue to remain in effect for 60 days. Also, the registry will open no more than 60 days before dispensaries have product available for patients. 

Once the registry opens, Restore Compassionate Care's staff will assist all current patients in the registration process and make sure that they successfully get registered with the state of Ohio.