The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority received more than 2,000 applications for medical cannabis license within the first few days of launching their online system.
Oklahomans started applying for licenses as soon as the online application system went live on Saturday morning. As of 8 a.m. on Monday, August 27, the agency got 2,167 license requests.
More than half of the applications received (1,363) are for patients seeking to use cannabis for treatment of various medical conditions. Around 300 are applications for dispensary licenses, 400 are for cannabis growers, and over 100 are for processors. A very small portion are for caregivers.
On Sunday, officials of the agency tested the approval process and awarded 23 licenses to patients. They are reviewing the rest of the applications.
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, they have raked in over $2 million in application fees since the online system was launched.
The agency said that the application process was going smoothly.
Medical cannabis advocate and license applicant John Frasure said that he never thought it would happen in his lifetime. Frasure is a veteran who suffers from insomnia and PTSD. He was also involved in a car accident that left him with chronic pain.
At one point, Frasure said he was taking 5,500 pills in a year. He decided to stay off his prescription medication three years ago and make the switch to medical cannabis when the drug was still illegal in the state.
Now, Frasure can take his cannabis treatment legally.
A CBD shop in Newcastle called Complete Body Defense has opened its doors to assist patients and help them understand the application process.
According to CBD President Jeremy Dedmon, he first thought the program would attract mostly people from his generation or younger. However, many elders in the community have come out of the woods and are showing support for medical cannabis.
Dedmon said that he plans to stock his shelves with medical cannabis, although he would have to wait until the new year for the suppliers.
He explained that once the growers get their cannabis licenses approved, they can start planting, and one these plants mature between 90 to 100 days, they are processed, packaged, and prepared for distribution.
People will also be allowed to grow cannabis at home once they get approval.
Advocates are happy with this development because it means affordable healthcare for thousands of Oklahomans, regardless of the demographic.
According to Dedmon, patients who are having difficulty paying for their medical bills will now be able to grow their very own medicine at home, legally.
Patients in Oklahoma who wish to apply for a medical cannabis license online can go here. They need to have a doctor’s recommendation to be awarded the license.