The latest stats from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) indicate the program is doing quite well, particularly for such a new initiative.
OMMA is charged with the tasks of licensing, regulating, and administering the program as authorized by Oklahoma law.
OMMA reports as at December 31, 2018:
- 33,099 patient applications received
- 231 caregiver applications received
- 2,762 business applications received
- 26,603 patients approved
- 162 caregivers approved
- 805 dispensaries approved
- 1,302 growers approved
- 341 processor licenses approved
With a population of around 3.9 million, this means around 6 in a thousand Oklahomans are registered patients.
Things have moved fairly rapidly in the state after Governor Mary Fallin signed revised emergency rules into law in August establishing an initial framework for medical cannabis in the state. In June, 56% of voters passed State Question 788, legalising the licensed use, sale, and cultivation of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
The online application system for patient and commercial medical marijuana licenses kicked off on August 25.
A patient license is valid for two years from the date it is issued and costs $100, unless a patient has a Medicaid or Medicare enrollment; in which case the fee is only $20. It seems OMMA is quite quick with turnaround times, stating an approval letter with and identification card will be mailed to a patient within 14 days of the application submission date; assuming of course the application passes muster.
While physicians wanting to register for the program don’t require any special training, they must be board certified under the rules established by the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure or the Oklahoma Board of Osteopathic Examiners.
The state is also issuing temporary adult patient licenses, which allows an individual from another state who holds a valid medicinal cannabis license to buy, consume and even grow medical marijuana in Oklahoma. You may be thinking these would need to be fast-growing plants as these licenses only last for 30 days, but renewals can be sought. It could get expensive though as each renewal will cost $100 and the turnaround time may prove problematic. Still, at least there’s an option for out-of-state folks visiting Oklahoma; particularly for those buying products.
