Cannabis laws are very clear in Oklahoma. The state legalized medical cannabis in October 2018. Since then, the medical marijuana industry has boomed in Oklahoma. Notably, the industry has brought in more consumers, growers, dispensers, processors, tax revenues, and patients in the state. However, there are some challenges. A new medical marijuana law hit Oklahoma. Let’s discuss the changes.

Legislation takes effect Friday expanding protections for state-qualified medical cannabis patients.

Legislation will take effect next week expanding protections for state-qualified medical cannabis patients.

A new law going into effect later this month will protect the rights of medical marijuana patients and establish regulations for the state’s fledgling medicinal cannabis industry. House Bill 2612, or the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act, as the measure is also known, will go into effect on Friday, August 30.

When Oklahoma Senate Bill 1030 takes effect on August 29, it will introduce changes to the way the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) shares information with law enforcement agencies. And those changes, argue the plaintiffs in an Oklahoma lawsuit, will put patient health data at risk. SB 1030 requires OMMA to provide law enforcement with all of the information displayed on medical marijuana licenses. That includes patient licenses, which contain sensitive medical information, as well as business licenses.

Facebook can’t decide if it loves or loathes cannabis. Around this time last year, reports indicated Facebook was “shadow-banning” companies associated with legal cannabis sales and advocacy.

Oklahoma’s medical cannabis program continues to grow in leaps and bounds, with a staggering number of the state’s residents now registered.

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) recently published the following updated statistics, current as at July 1.

Medical marijuana sales are continuing to climb in Oklahoma, topping $23 million in May and marking the eighth straight month of growth for the new industry.

Figures from the Oklahoma Tax Commission show the state collected more than $1.6 million in May from the 7% excise tax on marijuana. Another $2 million was collected in state and local sales taxes.

To date, medical marijuana sales have generated nearly $10.7 million for state coffers.

Sales have grown significantly each month since dispensaries began selling cannabis in October.

Oklahoma tax officials say medical marijuana sales topped $18 million last month, marking the seventh straight month of growth for the new industry.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission reported Monday the state collected more than $1.2 million in April from the 7% excise tax on marijuana that is in addition to state and local sales tax also collected from medical marijuana sales.

Marijuana sales have grown significantly each month since dispensaries began selling cannabis in October.

The number of people eligible to obtain the drug also is continuing to climb. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority says it has approved more than 104,000 patient licenses since August and has licensed more than 1,400 dispensaries and 2,700 commercial growers.