The State of Oklahoma became the 30th state in the U.S. to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, after the people voted for the implementation of SQ 788 in June 2018.
The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana authority was formed, under the Oklahoma State Department of Health, to oversee, regulate, administer and license the medical marijuana program for the State of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma medical marijuana community is a new, but thriving one, and the OMMA exists to ensure the safe and legal dissemination and usage of marijuana by, and for, the people of Oklahoma.
The medical marijuana program started accepting applications for licenses as early as August 2018, and various businesses have begun production and selling of marijuana seedlings as of September 2018. The program is soon expected to turn into a self-sufficient, profitable industry, where the producers, operators, vendors, and dispensaries are working in unison to make the product available in the markets. The plants and seedlings are already available for sale, to be purchased either for medical use.
While the first batch of marijuana seeds that were sown in Oklahoma’s grounds came from outside, the state will soon be able to self-sustain the growing demand for marijuana. Currently, seeds and full-grown plants are available for sale on the internet as well as in stores around the state and can be purchased. According to the owner and operator of one of the first licensed marijuana production businesses in Oklahoma, the demand is currently surpassing the amount produced. The business is selling every plant grown.
While some specialty stores are still debating the need to open separate dispensaries for marijuana products, about 600 dispensaries specializing in the sale of marijuana products have already been opened around the state. With the recommendations for testing of products being approved by the Oklahoma lawmakers just recently, confidence in the budding industry has grown, and people are now more willing to invest in it.
The program allows for medical marijuana licenses to be issued to businesses and organizations and medical marijuana cards to be issued to patients who are going to avail the marijuana products as part of treatment for various diseases like cancer, chronic pain, and nausea, epilepsy etc.
After a (slightly) arduous process of applying, and getting certification after consultation and evaluation by a registered physician, a patient can submit the application for the card to the state. For a total of $300 (you can get a discount if you are able to prove your eligibility for Medicare or Medicaid), a patient can receive the medical marijuana card which will allow the patient to have legal possession of marijuana and use it for medical purposes/according to medical prescriptions (if he/she is above the age of 18). The card remains valid for 2 years and allows the patient to keep 8 ounces of marijuana, 6 mature plants, and 6 seedlings.
With the program being initiated just a few months ago, medical marijuana and related products have already hit the shelves and are available in the market, both for potential producers and potential patients. Both, the demand and supply, are expected to see exponential growth following the success of the program in Oklahoma State.