There are a few things you should know about marijuana laws in Oklahoma. Some of them include the legality of smoking weed, the penalties for growing weed, and the prices for buying weed in the state.
Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana is legal in Oklahoma, as it was approved by voters in 2017. Since then, more than 7,300 licenses for medical marijuana businesses have been issued. Licensed dispensaries can sell medical cannabis to patients, and cultivators can grow up to six plants at home.
However, use of the drug in federal buildings, healthcare spaces, and other locations is prohibited. It’s also illegal to use it around children.
The state has a system for issuing and removing dispensary licenses. Currently, adult patients must select a caregiver. Caregiver licenses are free. Adults must be at least 21 years old. Licensed caregivers can assist up to five patients.
Patients can buy medical cannabis from licensed dispensaries, and caregivers can sell it to them. Dispensaries can sell flowers, concentrates, seeds, and edibles.
Doctors may recommend cannabis to patients, but they don’t have to be on a list to give recommendations. Licensed physicians can recommend medical marijuana to patients with any medical condition.
Physicians can recommend low-THC CBD oil. HB 2154 has added that physicians can recommend cannabis to patients with chronic epilepsy, intractable nausea, and intractable muscle spasms.
A person can be charged with possession of cannabis if it’s seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration. If convicted, the charge is a misdemeanor and carries a minimum of one year in jail. Additionally, the offender must pay supervision fees.
Penalties For Growing Weed Illegally
If you are caught growing marijuana in Oklahoma, you could be facing one of many penalties. These can range from the simple misdemeanor of possession to the felony of cultivation. The laws regarding cannabis in Oklahoma are not the same as in other states, and they vary from city to city.
In some cities, like Oklahoma City, there are no legal limits on the amount of weed you can possess. There are limits to how much you can cultivate though. You cannot grow more than six cannabis plants at home. However, patients with a valid medical prescription can grow up to six marijuana seeds at home.
Despite its legal status, the medical industry in Oklahoma is attracting the attention of a variety of criminal organizations, including drug traffickers. Because of this, the state legislature is considering a bill that would limit the number of commercial licenses the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) can issue.
While a first offense can carry a fine of up to $2,000, a second offense could result in a much bigger fine. Offenders may also have to pay a fee for court supervision. A third offense can land a defendant in jail for up to a year.
A fourth offense could mean jail time from 10 days to a year. This is just the beginning of the jail time involved with marijuana in Oklahoma.
Prices of Weed in Oklahoma
Whether you’re a new weed entrepreneur or a veteran, the price of weed in Oklahoma is not as cheap as it seems. However, the state has a reputation for being one of the easiest states to start a weed business.
Starting a weed business in Oklahoma costs roughly $2,500. This includes the cost of licensing. The medical marijuana industry has grown to a billion-dollar industry in Oklahoma.
There are no limits on the amount of weed a grower can produce. That’s helped the state eclipse California as the biggest licensed cannabis farm state in the country.
Some cannabis growers are concerned that the prices they’re getting aren’t sustainable, and may be in the process of going down. In April, a massive crackdown took place across Oklahoma, with police seizing cash, firearms, and thousands of cannabis plants.
A statewide seed-to-sale inventory tracking system called Metrc will soon give us real-time data. Oklahoma’s tax on cannabis is based on the retail price of a gram of weed at the time of purchase.
The cost of a cultivation license in Connecticut can run up to $50 million. While that price tag might be out of reach for some people, Oklahoma has no restrictions on the number of farms or dispensaries that can operate.
A recent report by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority found that the state earned $59.7 million in tax revenue in August 2022. Another proposed bill would let local governments cap the number of licenses.
