The History of Cannabis Legislation in Oklahoma (Updated 2023)

The state entirely prohibits the consumption of cannabis for recreational purposes. However, individuals can use it for medicinal purposes. Individuals above the age of 18 years can consume medical cannabis.

Oklahoma’s Cannabis Legislation History! (Is weed legal in Oklahoma?)

In 2018, there was a significant change in the marijuana laws in Oklahoma. In that year, the voters approved Question 788. With this, medical marijuana consumption, possession, and purchase became legalized. Furthermore, the Metrc (Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting Compliance) was implemented in the state, leading to changes in cannabis consumption laws.

Thus, on June 26, 2018, medical marijuana consumption became legalized in line with HB 2154 and SQ 788. Therefore, individuals must meet the general criteria and understand the rules and regulations surrounding the consumption of medical cannabis.

As of January 2022, the state banned the sale and purchase of marijuana for recreational purposes. The Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act regulates the consumption of marijuana for recreational reasons. It is punishable by law and can lead to 1 year of imprisonment or a $10,000 fine. The penalties can be increased in some instances.
On the other hand, if an individual is caught selling marijuana for recreational reasons, they are punishable by law and may face imprisonment for 2 to 10 years. A fine of $5000 will also be imposed.

How Much Medical Cannabis Can I Purchase in Oklahoma?

As mentioned before, individuals cannot purchase cannabis for recreational use. However, they can ideally access medical cannabis from state-licensed dispensaries. Typically, individuals can purchase the prescribed limit from any licensed dispensary.

Where To Consume Medical Marijuana in Oklahoma?

Once medical cannabis is purchased, it is required to be consumed. Although, there are laws that govern the consumption of marijuana. Smoking marijuana in public places for recreational purposes is a criminal offense. Other than this, smoking medical cannabis is also not acceptable and is punishable by law. In other words, individuals cannot publicly smoke it for recreational and medicinal purposes.
However, other than smoking, individuals can ingest marijuana as edibles in public. Although, it is best to prefer an enclosed area to consume marijuana as it is not in friction with legal authorities.
Although, individuals can consume medical marijuana in a confined place. It is suggested that individuals can smoke cannabis in:

• Apartments
  Individuals can ideally consume medical cannabis in their apartments. However, for this, they need the permission of their landlords.
• Home
  Your home does not need any permission, and individuals can freely smoke medical cannabis inside the four walls of their home.

How Much Medical Marijuana Can be Possessed in Oklahoma?

Here are the Oklahoma possession limits. These are as follows:

• Marijuana flower: 3 ounces
• Marijuana concentrate: 1 ounce
• Edibles: 72 ounces
• Mature plants: 6
• Seedling Plants: 6

Residents are required to follow the possession limits. The rules are strict, and individuals should not possess more than the mentioned limit. If they do, they will invite legal troubles. Additionally, the state has also not permitted the delivery of medical cannabis products. Thus, products can only be availed by legal and licensed mmj cardholders.
All these limits are for medical purposes. If any individual uses them for recreational reasons, the authorities will impose a fine of $1000 and an imprisonment of 1 year. The penalty can also be increased depending on the situation.

Medical Marijuana Registry

Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) regulates the licensing of mmj cards. Furthermore, individuals who wish to consume cannabis for their health concerns must possess a medical cannabis card. The card is also called a medical cannabis patient license. Individuals can purchase potent cannabis products from state-licensed dispensaries with this license.
Additionally, it also lowers the age limit. Hence, adults of 18 years can also access cannabis on their physician’s recommendation. In June 2018, the state issued beyond 7300 medical cannabis licenses and approved 1800 dispensaries. The current reports suggest that more than five percent of the state’s population possesses marijuana cards.

Qualifying Conditions

Individuals must have serious health concerns to obtain a medical card. Following are the qualifying health issues for getting an Oklahoma medical marijuana card:

• Medical issue qualified by a licensed physician
• Depression
• PTSD
• Autism
• Seizures
• Muscle spasms
• Cachexia
• Anxiety
• Chronic pain
• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• Nausea
• Anorexia
• Wasting syndrome

How To Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Oklahoma?

Here are the steps individuals must follow to obtain a medical cannabis card in Oklahoma:

1. Sign-up and Set an Appointment

Appointment booking is a streamlined process. Individuals are required to click on the button and fill up an application form. Additionally, individuals can select a suitable time for the appointment.

2. Professional Evaluation

The form is later picked up by the health professionals, who evaluate the individual’s medical condition. Generally, the evaluation is carried out via video conferencing. Medical professionals ask for the health details and critically evaluate the present health status of an individual. If they are satisfied, approval is granted.

3. Approval

For this step, individuals need to visit the official website of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA). Individuals must open an account and submit the required details and documents. Additionally, the doctor’s approval must be attached. Along with the documents, individuals must submit their residence proof. On average, the authority takes 14 days to review the application. Once the individuals receive approval, they get their marijuana card via email.

Caregiving

Due to some reasons, some individuals are unable to access marijuana. Therefore, in such a situation, a caregiver is appointed to them. For instance, if an individual demands assistance while consuming medical cannabis, a caregiver is appointed to them.
As per the law, caregivers must be 21 years of age or older. A legal guardian or parent acts as a caregiver if the patient is a minor. The caregivers are named on the caregiver designation form. A registered caregiver gets a license that allows them to purchase cannabis on behalf of the patient. The caregiver card is valid for two years.
For registering as a caregiver, individuals need to follow a proper process. The procedure is simple; potential caregivers must submit the required documents to get the license.

Medical Marijuana Reciprocity Laws

The out-of-state cardholders require a temporary license to obtain marijuana products in Oklahoma. Individuals can purchase medical cannabis for $100 on a 30-day renewal basis with a temporary license. Additionally, the license allows them to purchase, consume, and grow medical marijuana in the state.

Bottom Line!

Thus, to put it briefly, the recreational use of marijuana is banned, but individuals can access cannabis for medical reasons. For this purpose, it is significant to obtain an Oklahoma medical marijuana card. Once the qualifying health concerns are met, individuals become eligible for a card. Besides, it is critical to note the other aspects of medical cards, like process, reciprocity, and caregiving. With all these details, individuals can effectively lay their hands on marijuana cards and speed up their recovery.