As the medical marijuana sector in Oklahoma expands to new heights, the Oklahoma marijuana laws guiding citizens with a dispensary license continue to evolve. If you are looking to get a dispensary license in Oklahoma, you have come to the right place for information.
There have been steady modifications to the new guidelines governing marijuana use. Presently, the new House bill is in the Senate for additional review. This new rule is an addition to the previously existing Oklahoma marijuana laws that govern the operation of marijuana dispensaries in Oklahoma City.
It's crucial to understand that the rules governing marijuana use and the licensing process change from state to state. A state has the authority to set the qualifications that a marijuana grower or dispenser must meet to obtain a license.
In this article, we’ll go over how Oklahoma people can get a dispensary license—and what marijuana rules they should be aware of once they get one.
Oklahoma marijuana laws you need to know before opening a dispensary.
With the passage of SQ 788 in June 2018, Oklahoma became the 30th state in the United States to allow medical marijuana. The cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana were subject to stricter regulation after legalization.
It became a requirement to apply for and acquire a government-recognized, mandatory license to own and operate a marijuana dispensary in Oklahoma. Again, if you intend to open a dispensary outside of your home state, you should research the regulations governing marijuana use in that state. Under the new legislation, if you are caught with any marijuana-related substance without a genuine license, you will be prosecuted.
The following are some of the guidelines that a potential marijuana dispenser should consider:
- Marijuana licensing: Licenses for potential dispensary operators are issued by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority. There was previously no limit on the number of licenses issued to marijuana dispensers. But the new House bill under review will introduce the capping of licenses that OMMA distributes. Any license obtained from a third party is void; in fact, obtaining a marijuana license from the OMMA is the first rule.
- Sell marijuana to patients with state-issued marijuana licenses: Patients with a state-issued medical marijuana license can legally purchase marijuana from properly approved dispensaries. A marijuana dispensary must use procedures to ensure that the rules are followed. The second requirement is to always ask for a patient's marijuana pass before offering them marijuana.
- Start and complete Metrc training: The authorities utilize this to track the marijuana that you grow, process, transport, and sell in the state. This system of recording marijuana sales by the state is essential for ensuring transparency between you and the authorities. It should be adopted by any potential marijuana dispenser as it's a way to make sure you follow Oklahoma's marijuana rules.
- Distance from learning center to marijuana dispensary: For the 1,000-foot requirement for dispensaries, potential dispensaries must demonstrate that their location fits the current standard. No dispensary is permitted to be located near any educational facility.
- Criminal record check: Before the licensing application, candidates must undergo an Oklahoma State Penal History Background Review within thirty days of the issuing of any dispensary, grower, or processor license. According to the Oklahoma licensing committee, anyone with serious offenses, such as for violence or fraud within the last two to five years is forbidden from obtaining a cannabis license.
There are some current consumption laws for cannabis in the state, and because there are no final regulations governing cannabis use, it is critical to check for updates on cannabis restrictions regularly.
On June 30th, 2021, Metrc was established as the new official tracking system that all dispensaries must use, making the previous tracking system, operated by OMMA, obsolete. This is an example of the importance of regularly checking for updates on marijuana use.
What is OMMA?
OMMA is in charge of licensing, regulating, and enforcing the marijuana dispensation criteria established by state law. When you apply for a marijuana license with OMMA, you will be examined, and if you do not meet all the requirements, you will be given a full refund of the initial license charge.
The duties of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority include:
- Making sure that patients who can't receive a 2-year doctor's recommendation get a temporary medical patient license.
- Supervising a prospective marijuana store and confirming that it meets the state's public marijuana consumption rules.
- Having sole responsibility for awarding marijuana dealer permits.
- Ensuring that all medicinal marijuana testing labs are accredited and that test batch limitations are adjusted.
- Being in charge of overseeing marijuana cultivation in the state. Assuming auditing responsibilities to ensure that all marijuana grown in Oklahoma is correctly accounted for.
- Implementing an inventory tracking system containing patient information.
What is Metrc?
Metrc is an online database created exclusively for tracking cannabis production. It keeps track of marijuana goods from seed to sale and makes it easier for people to comply with Oklahoma marijuana laws. METRC (Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting and Compliance) collects cannabis data using UID. A unique identification number (UID) is an alphanumeric code that identifies a specific cannabis plant or product.
Metrc was established to bring transparency to customers and act as a reporting tool. The development phases, plant movement, and every other activity are all tracked. Tags are used to keep track of these cannabis plants, and they include:
- Tag order date
- Plant identification number
- Application identifier name
- Number of the license
How do I get a dispensary license in Oklahoma?
In Oklahoma City, there are four different types of cannabis license you can apply for:
- Marijuana grower license: In Oklahoma, a medical marijuana producer license permits a company to legally cultivate marijuana for medical purposes. A marijuana growing license is a state-issued permission that allows the holder to grow a specific number of marijuana plants in a designated area.
- Marijuana processor license: Anyone who wants to process marijuana will need this type of license. A business license is required to process marijuana grown by someone else. Only farmers with an Oklahoma marijuana grower license can sell to certified processors.
- Marijuana transportation license: You can choose to work only as a marijuana carrier, delivering marijuana to various dispensaries. Even as a transporter, you must be screened before being entrusted with the responsibility of delivering marijuana to registered dispensaries. Transportation of medical marijuana will require both a transporter business license and an individual transporter agent card.
- Marijuana dispensing license: A marijuana dispensary license allows a company to sell medical marijuana and medical marijuana goods, such as mature plants and seedlings, lawfully. A dispensing license allows a potential marijuana dispenser to serve marijuana to patients who have obtained a marijuana permit from OMMA. If you attempt to sell marijuana t in Oklahoma, even to licensed users, without a dispensing license, you will be penalized.
High application and license fees, tight rules, hectic administrative needs, and extensive financial reporting are some of the major obstacles to starting a dispensary. Several states and cities have imposed restrictions on the number of dispensaries that can open in their jurisdictions. Each state in the United States has the authority to create its licensing agency and choose which licenses are required for different cannabis businesses.
Also, the recent legalization of marijuana in certain Oklahoma counties is a once-in-a-lifetime event. As a result, recreational and medical marijuana have spawned a new industry in which people are eager to participate.
If you are looking to acquire a dispensary license, these are the steps you will need to take:
1 - Obtain a doctor's referral in Oklahoma.
The first step in obtaining a legal marijuana dispensary license is to receive a doctor's endorsement. You'll need to start looking for a doctor in your neighborhood who is willing to sign referral documents right away, because most Oklahoma doctors are hesitant to do so. You can find a list of licensed physicians in the region here.
2 - Proof of Oklahoma residency and identity.
You must first present any reliable documents demonstrating your legal status as an Oklahoma resident. You'll need the following documents:
- Driver's license from Oklahoma
- Oklahoma voter registration card
- Identification card in Oklahoma
- A residential property deed
- The current rental agreement for a home in Oklahoma
- Other U.S. government-issued photo identification, such as a passport
- The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety tribal identification card for identifying purposes
- A full-face digital shot that is clear and in color
- Your patient's Medicare or Medicaid (SoonerCare) insurance card or enrollment papers, if available
- A Physician Recommendation for Adult Patients Form must be postmarked within 30 days of the application's submission.
3 - Fill an application for an Omma dispensary license.
You must apply and pay on the OMMA website. Individuals who produce proof of membership in Medicare or Medicaid (SoonerCare) will be given a $20 discount. In all other circumstances, the application fee is $100. The fee must be paid using a MasterCard, Visa, or Discover credit or debit card.
You'll need a valid email address to register because notices will be sent to it. The OMMA will review your application after you've submitted it. Within 14 days of submitting your application, if it is complete and fits all of the requirements, you will receive a letter of acceptance along with your new ID card.
Otherwise, you'll get an email explaining why certain information or documents in your application are missing or unclear. If this happens, you'll be able to go back into your account and make any necessary changes. The date on which OMMA receives a complete application is the submission date. You will receive a refusal letter if your application is denied because all of the prerequisites were not met.
Without a thorough knowledge of the dispensary guidelines, chances are that you'll consider it a daunting task. Click here to learn more about marijuana licensing in Oklahoma.
What else do I need to know?
There are some other things to bear in mind before and during the application process if you're applying for a dispensary license in Oklahoma for the first time. Here are a few of them:
- At the time of application, a marijuana license applicant must be at least 25 years old. Also, marijuana licenses are renewed every two years.
- According to Oklahoma marijuana laws, children under the age of 18 without a medical or caregiver card can only enter your dispensary if accompanied by an adult who has a valid medical card. You should also double-check that the card isn't a photocopy.
- You will be denied if you were previously approved with an out-of-state license and then reapply. Obtaining an Oklahoma driver's license or state identification card is the only way to remedy this.
- The state allows itself up to 14 days to process and mail your card. Initially, the processing takes 14 days or more. Always log back into your OMMA.ok.gov account and see whether it still says pending or authorized.
- If you are unable to complete your licensing agreement, you will be fully reimbursed. If you have any questions concerning your license at any point in time, you should always contact the Omma customer service center.
- In Oklahoma, a marijuana license applicant must submit a business plan, financial plan, and inventory control plan. Patient education, record keeping, staffing, and security plans are also beneficial.
- If you want to create a dispensary in Oklahoma, you'll need a dispensary point-of-sale system that works with the new metric system. Fortunately, we link with several popular dispensary POS systems, allowing you to manage your personnel as well as your merchandise.
The costs of opening a dispensary are substantially lower in many other legal states. To open a dispensary in Oklahoma, you'll need to acquire the necessary information and look over a few essential Oklahoma marijuana laws. However, competition is fierce, as demand for cannabis business licenses is high. Potential marijuana dispensary owners must plan ahead of time to guarantee that they comply with Oklahoma's marijuana laws.
Because marijuana use is heavily controlled and can still run foul of federal prohibitions, you need to speak with a knowledgeable marijuana business law attorney who can advise you on Oklahoma marijuana laws while simultaneously guiding your firm through national rules.
Ready to start looking for great talent at your dispensary? Check out our ultimate hiring guide!
