Legislation signed into law earlier this year to extend Oklahoma’s moratorium (temporary ban) on new marijuana businesses is now officially in effect.
In May Governor Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 2095 into law, with the measure officially taking effect this month. The new law extends the state’s ban on the establishment of any new medical marijuana businesses by a full two years.
Prior to enactment of House Bill 2095 the state’s moratorium on new marijuana licenses – put in place by state lawmakers last year – was set to expire on August 1, 2024. Now, the moratorium will expire on August 1, 2026, a full 991 days away.
According to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, there are nearly 3,000 dispensaries currently located throughout the state, serving nearly 400,000 medical marijuana patients (around 10% of the state’s population).
Oklahoma’s medical marijuana law was passed by voters in 2018. The law allows those with a physician recommendation to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and up to 72 ounces of marijuana edibles. Patients can also cultivate up to six plants, and they can purchase marijuana from a licensed marijuana dispensary.
As written, Oklahoma’s medical marijuana law provided for a relatively simple and easy application process compared to some other medical marijuana states, resulting in a rapid influx of new marijuana businesses. With thousands of dispensaries opening over the course of a couple years, lawmakers decided last year to put the brakes on the new industry by refusing to issue new marijuana licenses.
