The Oklahoma medical marijuana industry has gone from strength to strength in the three short years since its inception. Oklahoma MMJ news has been positive from the beginning. Large numbers of OK residents are benefitting from medical marijuana treatment, and MMJ is also bringing massive economic benefits to the Sooner State.
Oklahoma legalized medical marijuana in the summer of 2018. Since then, the OK MMJ industry has grown very quickly – in fact, it’s now one of the largest and most profitable in the entire US. A major reason why the Oklahoma MMJ industry has grown so large is that the Sooner State now has the US’s biggest MMJ market on a per capita basis.
How Oklahoma Became The US’s Biggest MMJ Market
Oklahoma became the US’s biggest MMJ market on a per capita basis rapidly, due to several factors. The MMJ program in Oklahoma is liberal and patient-friendly. There is less red tape clogging the system than in other states. Medical marijuana businesses in OK have become very profitable, and this has increased positive sentiment towards MMJ in OK.
Here are some of the key factors that have resulted in Oklahoma becoming the US’s biggest MMJ market in just three years…
Oklahoma Has A Freedom-Loving Population
The Oklahoma population has long had a pro-free market, pro-entrepreneur, pro-freedom, and pro-small government ethos. Oklahomans are generally distrustful of too much federal government interference.
This freedom-loving ethos has made setting up an MMJ business in Oklahoma relatively easy and has been a big factor in allowing the OK MMJ market to grow without interference from state authorities.
The Oklahoma Public Is Supportive Of The State’s MMJ Industry
In 2018, 57% of Oklahomans voted to legalize medical marijuana. Since legalization, support for the OK MMJ program has grown further amongst the population. Most Oklahomans know somebody who is benefitting massively from MMJ, either in terms of their health or finances. This strong public support has helped Oklahoma become the US’s biggest MMJ market.
Oklahoma MMJ Is A Very Effective Treatment For Many Medical Conditions
A big reason that Oklahoma has become such a large medical marijuana market is that MMJ provides very effective treatment for several painful and debilitating medical conditions. Oklahomans avail of MMJ treatment to alleviate the symptoms of illnesses such as:
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Chronic pain
- Depression
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Parkinson’s disease
- Migraine
- Muscle spasms
- Insomnia
MMJ Has Lessened Oklahoma’s Opioid Problems
Like many other US states, Oklahoma has had problems with opioid addiction over the last few decades. The legalization of medical marijuana in Oklahoma gave people another option. A lot of people who had relied on painkillers and opioids to get through the day prior to MMJ legalization have benefitted massively from MMJ and have been able to stop using opioids.
Oklahoma Has No Official List Of MMJ Qualifying Conditions
Unlike every other legal MMJ state, Oklahoma has no list of official qualifying conditions. MMJ doctors in OK are able to prescribe MMJ for any conditions that they believe will benefit from MMJ treatment. This has been a big factor in the huge growth of the Oklahoma MMJ market.
Oklahoma Has A Lot Of Great MMJ Dispensaries
So, how many dispensaries are in Oklahoma in 2021? At last count, there were over 2,000 dispensaries in Oklahoma, the most of any US state. And not only does OK have a lot of dispensaries, but it also has some of the best dispensaries in the nation.
Oklahoma dispensaries sell a wide range of high-quality products, many of which are not available elsewhere, including:
- Marijuana flower
- Pre-rolls
- Edibles
- Drinks
- Lotions
- Vapes
- Tinctures
Oklahoma Practices Reciprocity
A final reason why Oklahoma’s MMJ market is so large is that it practices reciprocity by allowing out-of-state MMJ cardholders to hold a Temporary Patient license, which enables them to purchase Oklahoma MMJ while they are visiting the state.
Will Oklahoma Go Recreational In 2021?
There are no plans for Oklahoma to go recreational in 2021. However, a ballot is being prepared by marijuana activists in the state that will propose legalizing recreational marijuana in 2022.
How Can Oklahomans Get An MMJ Card?
You can get an MMJ card in Oklahoma by going to the MMJRecs online clinic and having a video consultation with an OK MMJ doctor. Once the doctor verifies you, they will sign your OMMA form online.
Featured image by Gerson Repreza on Unsplash