Oklahoma is a land-lock state in the South-central area of the United States, with Texas being on its southern and western borders. The topography of Oklahoma is mostly prairie, mesas with mountain ranges, and eastern forests. Oklahoma is also home to around 3.943 million residents and is the 28th most populous U.S. state.
The Oklahoma SQ 788 Legislation
Oklahoma is also one of the U.S. states that have legalized the selling of medical marijuana but only for people with a medical marijuana card in Oklahoma. The SQ 788, Oklahoma’s state legislation regarding the sale of medical marijuana, was put into effect on June 26, 2018. It was estimated that two percent of Oklahoma’s population was in need of treatment using medical marijuana. However, after a year of implementation, more than 3.5 percent of Oklahoma residents have already applied for medical marijuana cards in Oklahoma.
Who can Obtain a Medical Marijuana Card?
The Oklahoma SQ 788 legislation has very lenient restrictions on issuing marijuana licenses, mostly relying on physicians’ recommendations. The SQ 7888 also does not have a list of qualified medical conditions that patients must have to be able to obtain marijuana licenses. This requirement means that a person who wants to obtain a medical marijuana card in Oklahoma needs only to get a recommendation from his or her state-licensed doctor; however, the recommendation should follow the accepted standards of prescribing any medication.
Anybody above the age of 18 can apply for a marijuana license. Minors can also avail of the medical marijuana card provided that the minor has recommendations from two licensed doctors and that a parent or guardian must also sign the application. Minors are not allowed to purchase medical cannabis on their own and hence must assign caregivers.
SQ 788 Restrictions on Medical Cannabis Possession and Cultivation
Although SQ 788 is lenient in allowing people to apply and obtain medical marijuana cards, it does have restrictions to prevent the abuse of the card’s usage.
- Possession
Only persons registered with the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) and have a valid medical marijuana card in Oklahoma are allowed to possess medical cannabis. Registered persons may include the patients, caregivers, and other authorized individuals and may possess up to three ounces of medical marijuana on their person. For concentrated cannabis products such as CBD oil, the maximum that they can carry is one ounce or 28.35 grams. Other cannabis products, such as edibles, can be carried in public but are limited to a maximum of 72 ounces or 2.04 kilograms.
- Cultivation
Oklahoma SQ 788 allows registered patients to cultivate or grow their marijuana plants; however, the cultivation should be limited to a maximum of six adult plants and six cannabis seedlings. Persons caught cultivating more than twelve plants in total will be facing misdemeanor charges and will be fined accordingly.
- Home Storage
Persons who have valid medical marijuana cards can have up to a maximum of eight ounces stored in their homes.
The leniency of the SQ 788 has made it possible for patients to have quick relief from symptoms of their medical conditions by being able to obtain medical marijuana without having to tackle a lot of obstacles. Nevertheless, the restrictions that accompany the legislation has made the Oklahoma medical marijuana program a very effective one.
