The historically red state of Oklahoma recently approved over 12,000 medical marijuana licenses, giving much-needed access to medicine to thousands of Oklahoma residents. Medical cannabis became legal in Oklahoma in August of this year, after residents voted 57% in favor of legalizing medical cannabis.
Since then, over 16,600 patients have applied to become medical cannabis patients, along with nearly 150 patient caregivers. In addition, over 2,200 businesses have applied for commercial licenses to produce and/or sell medical cannabis in the state of Oklahoma. The state’s medical program is run by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA). Applications started being accepted as early as August 24th.
How Do You Apply For A Medical Marijuana License?
Before they can even apply, however, Oklahoma residents over the age of 18 first need their doctor’s written approval, In order to be admitted to the Oklahoma medical cannabis program. Unlike other more conservative states, however, medical marijuana patients in Oklahoma won’t be restricted to a limited list of qualifying conditions; the recently passed legislation allows for doctors to recommend medical cannabis at their own discretion.
Under Oklahoma state law, participants in the medical cannabis program will be permitted to have up to three ounces of medical marijuana on their person and up to eight ounces in their own homes. Possession of up to an ounce of marijuana concentrates will also be allowed, along with 72 ounces of edibles. If they prefer to cultivate their own medical cannabis, patients will also be allowed to grow up to six mature cannabis plants and six seedlings in their homes.
The medical cannabis program has recently been overshadowed by some controversy involving the publication of thousands of addresses listed on applications for medical marijuana business licenses, and one business was even robbed as a result. Said Melissa Miller, manager of OMMA,
“We were inundated with requests to share grower’s addresses and because they’re public records, we had to reply. We thought it would be easier to make the list public.”
Despite so many patients and businesses having already been approved, many are complaining that they are still unable to find medical marijuana to purchase. Because cannabis remains federally illegal, shipping any cannabis across state borders is strictly prohibited. From seed to harvest, then, it can take up to several months to produce a crop of medical cannabis for commercial sales. Until then, medical marijuana patients will just have to wait it out.
Shawn Carson owns Gaia’s Favor, a medical cannabis dispensary located in Oklahoma City.
“I take 25, 30, 40 calls a day, and the same question everyone has is when are you going to have flower? Once it’s dried and cured, that’s the smoke-able form of marijuana. I want the flower to be in the shop as much as every customer that calls me. I wish it were here right now, but be patient. [Soon] I’ll be behind the counter and ready, willing, and able to work out what strains will be best for…specific ailments,” said Carson to the Oklahoma City News.
If all goes to plan, Gaia’s Favor will open its doors to medical cannabis patients next month.