Can I own a gun and a medical marijuana card in Oklahoma? This question is being asked a lot lately. Oklahoma is one of the most gun-friendly states and also has the fastest-growing medical marijuana program in the country.
Oklahoma is a passionate Second Amendment state. The Sooner State has a liberal open-carry policy, allowing its citizens to openly carry many types of firearms without a license. In 2019, the state passed a law that allows people to carry a concealed handgun without a license.
Oklahoma’s medical marijuana program is one of the nation’s most open, user-friendly, and rapidly expanding. The state has more dispensaries and MMJ patients per head of capita than any other part of the country. Since its legalization only a short time ago in August 2018, Oklahoma MMJ has become a very important part of the state’s economy. Almost 5% of the state’s population now holds a medical marijuana card.
With so many gun owners and MMJ patients in Oklahoma, “Can gun owners apply for MMJ cards?” has become an important question. Let’s find out the answer.
What Are Oklahoma’s Laws On Medical Marijuana And Gun Ownership?
Like so many MMJ laws, laws relating to MMJ and gun ownership vary state by state. Federal law prohibits medical marijuana patients from using firearms. This is because federal law still classes marijuana as an illegal drug.
But the federal government does not get involved in a state’s handling of issues relating to MMJ and gun ownership. This means that each state sets its own rules when it comes to whether gun owners are allowed to use MMJ.
Can I Own A Gun And A Medical Marijuana Card In Oklahoma?
This area of Oklahoma’s MMJ legislation was quite a gray zone for some time. A lot of confusion was created by the seeming contradiction between Oklahoma’s MMJ laws and gun laws, and federal law.
Medical marijuana became legal in Oklahoma in 2018. But it was still illegal under OK law to carry a gun while in possession of drugs deemed illegal under federal law. This created a problematic inconsistency in the law.
However, things have been cleared up by the “Unity Law”, which was passed on March 14, 2019. Governor Kevin Stitt signed the bill, which states that a medical marijuana patient or caregiver will “not be denied the right to own, purchase or possess a firearm, ammunition, or firearm accessories based solely on his or her status as a medical marijuana patient or caregiver licensee.”
Is MMJ Use For Gun Owners Legal In Oklahoma?
The passing of the Unity Law means gun owners can apply for medical marijuana cards, and use, purchase, and grow MMJ. Oklahoma is once again leading the way in terms of the clarity and openness of its medical marijuana laws.
What Are The Terms Of Use Regarding Gun Ownership And MMJ In Oklahoma?
While firearm sellers in Oklahoma do run background checks before they sell certain types of weapons, these checks only flag felony convictions. So while MMJ is illegal at a federal level, Oklahoma MMJ users will not have been convicted for its use because it is not illegal at a state level.
There are several restrictions on MMJ use and gun ownership in Oklahoma. It is not legal to drive, operate heavy machinery, or, in many occupations, work under the influence of medical marijuana. Certain calibers and types of firearm are not legal to conceal and carry, and certain people with prior convictions are not legally allowed to conceal carry.
What Qualifying Conditions Enable A Gun Owner To Get An MMJ Card In Oklahoma?
Oklahoma is almost unique in the fact that it has no formal list of medical marijuana qualifying conditions. A licensed physician in the state can prescribe medical marijuana for any medical condition that they deem will be helped by treatment with medical marijuana.
How Can Oklahoma Gun Owners Benefit From Medical Marijuana?
Oklahoma residents can befit from MMJ use in numerous ways. Medical marijuana is excellent at treating the symptoms of many painful and debilitating conditions, including:
- Glaucoma
- Chronic pain
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Depression, anxiety, PTSD
- Cancer
- Arthritis
- Back pain
- Nausea
- Crohn’s disease
- Epilepsy
- Eating disorders
How Can A Gun Owner Apply For Medical Marijuana Card In Oklahoma?
The best way to get an MMJ card in Oklahoma is to set up an online consultation with a local medical professional through MMJRecs. By using MMJRecs, you can apply quickly and easily from the comfort of your own home.
Once you have completed an online consultation, you will have your own medical marijuana card that you can use in any MMJ dispensary in the state.
Featured image by MikeGunner on Pixabay