Oklahoma Medical Marijuana dispensaries now report and pay monthly sales taxes totaling roughly $6.5 million in the latest month of reporting. This equates to annual revenue for the state and municipalities at nearly $80 million, for medicine sales. In contrast, Opioid sales in Oklahoma brought no revenue and cost the state vast sums in emergency room costs to medicaid and even more when state addiction intervention services are factored in.
For the first time in 11 months, the average patient sales actually went down. The August average patient spent $224 in purchases. But in September, the average patient spent $217 in cannabis medicines. This does not take into account the personal gardening options which a patient now has the legal authority to rely on. Total sales in Oklahoma are now on a trajectory to exceed $500 million annually, at the current rates of sales. |
Sadly, patients are still taking great risks to consume purchased medicines because the State Health Dept (which oversees the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority) has failed to provide the fundamental safety protocols and testing standards. It was a very controversial action last year when the OMMA decided to let the February session of the legislature give them a framework for testing standards. The February actions of the legislature provided them clarity, yet the OMMA failed to give patients any testing inspections when the August 29th laws went into effect.
The OMMA still has no certified testing institutions licensed. they have no concrete date set for when patients will be able to buy medicines with state testing seals. This begs the question of whether the Health Dept has any interest in protecting the health and safety of Oklahomans. the Oklahoma Health Dept has lost the moral authority to oversee any medicine standards for the $4 million residents who have to find medicines to treat serious medical conditions.
The Medical Marijuana Patients are increasingly calling for the OMMA to be removed from the State Health Dept. and established as a separate agency which answers directly to the governor & legislature. Without basic testing standards & at least spot testing inspections, the govt. has no moral claim to collect a single dime of taxes from these 200 thousand patients.
The OMMA still has no certified testing institutions licensed. they have no concrete date set for when patients will be able to buy medicines with state testing seals. This begs the question of whether the Health Dept has any interest in protecting the health and safety of Oklahomans. the Oklahoma Health Dept has lost the moral authority to oversee any medicine standards for the $4 million residents who have to find medicines to treat serious medical conditions.
The Medical Marijuana Patients are increasingly calling for the OMMA to be removed from the State Health Dept. and established as a separate agency which answers directly to the governor & legislature. Without basic testing standards & at least spot testing inspections, the govt. has no moral claim to collect a single dime of taxes from these 200 thousand patients.