Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

[SoonerQueen]

I am amazed at how many dispensaries we have for medical marijuana. We have 4 within two blocks and another one is going in. I'd rather see new restaurants going in.

[BBatesokc]

I think this is pretty common in state's when the legalization first goes into effect.

I recall going to Colorado and the streets in some areas were lined with dispensaries - and they have recreational use. However, you go down those same streets today and many of those locations are now out of business. That's not to say that there are still not a lot of dispensaries around.

I imagine in the next year or so you'll see several of these dispensaries follow the same path.

[TheTravellers]

I am amazed at how many dispensaries we have for medical marijuana. We have 4 within two blocks and another one is going in. I'd rather see new restaurants going in.

Why would you rather see new restaurants? Is there crime at these dispensaries? Are there undesirable people hanging around them?

They're regular businesses employing people and paying taxes, and unless they're a public nuisance, who cares how many there are... I'd rather see dispensaries than a bunch of the sh*tty 7-11s and cigarette convenience stores that are scattered all over the metro.

And as Brian said, some will be "weed"ed out over time.

[mugofbeer]

I think this is pretty common in state's when the legalization first goes into effect.

I recall going to Colorado and the streets in some areas were lined with dispensaries - and they have recreational use. However, you go down those same streets today and many of those locations are now out of business. That's not to say that there are still not a lot of dispensaries around.

I imagine in the next year or so you'll see several of these dispensaries follow the same path.

This is pretty much correct. One major difference in Colorado is that individual communities can prohibit shops entirely. I also believe the spacing between them and schools/residential areas is more in Denver. This and general demographics has tended to group them along Colfax and Broadway but there are some scattered shops elsewhere. The main problem with them is since they are not Federally legal and deal in cash, they are targets for robberies, general transient activity and, in the areas around them, secondary drug deals to kids. Otherwise, they are no different than 7-11s.

[Pete]

Keep in mind that because Oklahoma has legalized medical cannabis but not full recreational use (like Colorado and California), you can't even enter a dispensary without a patient license.

In that respect, we're quite different.


There will absolutely be a shake-out which will turn into an on-going thing. The industry here is still rapidly growing; more than 160K patient licenses have already been issued and we are really just getting started. More than 1,700 dispensary licenses have been issued as well.

[mugofbeer]

Keep in mind that because Oklahoma has legalized medical cannabis but not full recreational use (like Colorado and California), you can't even enter a dispensary without a patient license.

In that respect, we're quite different.


There will absolutely be a shake-out which will turn into an on-going thing. The industry here is still rapidly growing; more than 160K patient licenses have already been issued and we are really just getting started. More than 1,700 dispensary licenses have been issued as well.

Its inevitable medical pot will go up for a vote of full recreational use. It took about 2 years for this to happen in Colorado. I expect it will be longer in OK, but l still think it is inevitable.

[Pete]

Its inevitable medical pot will go up for a vote of full recreational use. It took about 2 years for this to happen in Colorado. I expect it will be longer in OK, but l still think it is inevitable.

Not so sure.

The only real difference is needing a patient license, which is easily obtained.

I think it's more likely we'll wait for the federal laws to change.

[BBatesokc]

The thing I don't like about the medical license aspect is that (at least based in my limited understanding) is that it creates a far more trackable record of those purchasing marijuana and I'm skeptical on how that database could be used in the future. This is why I prefer recreation use legalization and why I drove to Colorado when I was using THC for medical purposes.

[Pete]

^

It's also a barrier to people who are poor or live in areas without doctors who can provide the license.

It's about $200 all-in to go through the process and that's not a small amount.

I just hate any barrier to anyone getting medicine and healthcare.

[Mel]

I read an article, about three days ago, about how high the price of medical cannabis is in OK. It had a nice chart to compare with. Can not find it at all now. There is a financial barrier to the use of this product. The Veteran discount helps, but not much.

[Pete]

Prices will come down.

There has been an undersupply of product because it's taken a while to get the first grows complete. But lots of growers are now cranking.

[Bill Robertson]

Not so sure.

The only real difference is needing a patient license, which is easily obtained.

I think it's more likely we'll wait for the federal laws to change.

Key word here is EASILY!!! Anybody can get a card.

[Bill Robertson]

The thing I don't like about the medical license aspect is that (at least based in my limited understanding) is that it creates a far more trackable record of those purchasing marijuana and I'm skeptical on how that database could be used in the future. This is why I prefer recreation use legalization and why I drove to Colorado when I was using THC for medical purposes.

The tracking aspect keeps me from even thinking about getting a card. I have to maintain federal clearance to have my job and I’m absolutely sure they can access the database. I had both hips replaced about a year ago after a couple years of misdiagnosis. I’m still in constant pain though not anywhere near the level that I was. I would love to try medical marijuana but it’s not happening until the federal government legalizes it.

[TheTravellers]

Key word here is EASILY!!! Anybody can get a card.

If you have $200 in spare cash around, along with the time and resources to take a passport-type pic and fill out the online application (which some places will do for you, but that's usually a charge on top of the $100 most docs charge you just for the recommendation).

[TheTravellers]

The tracking aspect keeps me from even thinking about getting a card. I have to maintain federal clearance to have my job and I’m absolutely sure they can access the database. I had both hips replaced about a year ago after a couple years of misdiagnosis. I’m still in constant pain though not anywhere near the level that I was. I would love to try medical marijuana but it’s not happening until the federal government legalizes it.

I don't like tracking at all, be it for grocery/loyalty-type cards or databases of any sort, but I honestly don't think the MMJ patient database is connected to or searched by other agencies. If you go to the OMMA website and put in a patient's license number, the only thing that comes up is just "Yes, that number is valid" or "No, it's not valid". As far as accessing it on the back end, I don't think that's happening, and I think OMMA addressed that with the gun license/MMJ license controversy, and AFAIK, the OSBI doesn't search OMMA's database to find out if a current/pending gun license owner has an MMJ license, and the OMMA doesn't search anybody else's databases before issuing their license.

[FighttheGoodFight]

I will say this as a positive. All the shops have gone in some pretty crappy looking places here in Norman. Now they are thriving businesses that have had their buildings completely revamped. I am happy about that!

[Mel]

Found the chart I had mentioned earlier.

[securityinfo]

I don't like tracking at all, be it for grocery/loyalty-type cards or databases of any sort, but I honestly don't think the MMJ patient database is connected to or searched by other agencies. If you go to the OMMA website and put in a patient's license number, the only thing that comes up is just "Yes, that number is valid" or "No, it's not valid". As far as accessing it on the back end, I don't think that's happening, and I think OMMA addressed that with the gun license/MMJ license controversy, and AFAIK, the OSBI doesn't search OMMA's database to find out if a current/pending gun license owner has an MMJ license, and the OMMA doesn't search anybody else's databases before issuing their license.

The " Unity" bill allows for this. A searchable database accessible by any law enforcement officer at any time is currently being created, and is probably done by now. This data will get out in the public sphere, there are no real safeguards to prevent it. "Uncle Grumpy" produced a lengthy podcast on this issue, and it is dead on correct. Sorry for harshing everyone's buzz on this :-)

And Pete, there is no regulation with respect to who can enter a dispensary. Just who can purchase.

[BBatesokc]

Once you're in a database, you're in a database. How that database is utilized can change over time.

I don't want employers, the federal gov't, insurance providers, credit granting institutions, etc. to be able to access this sort of information. I don't use THC currently, but if my medical need arose again, I'd seek THC through a 3rd party or in a state that has legalized recreational use.

[BBatesokc]

... And Pete, there is no regulation with respect to who can enter a dispensary. Just who can purchase.

That was my understanding. Well, beyond an age restriction. I was told though that many dispensaries have a policy requiring a medical card to enter - for liability reasons.

[pw405]

I read an article, about three days ago, about how high the price of medical cannabis is in OK. It had a nice chart to compare with. Can not find it at all now. There is a financial barrier to the use of this product. The Veteran discount helps, but not much.

Rest assured, the prices quoted in that article are not what is paid on average! I've been to ~50 different locations in the metro, and everybody always has some form of sale, or just flatout lower prices in general. Paying $50 for 1/8th of an oz, with tax, puts the prices higher than blackmarket prices. While that may have been the case for the first few months of medical, it is certainly cheaper now.

I still find average edible prices to be very high around the metro. There's one store that has what I feel are fair prices.

[TheTravellers]

The " Unity" bill allows for this. A searchable database accessible by any law enforcement officer at any time is currently being created, and is probably done by now. This data will get out in the public sphere, there are no real safeguards to prevent it. "Uncle Grumpy" produced a lengthy podcast on this issue, and it is dead on correct. Sorry for harshing everyone's buzz on this :-)

And Pete, there is no regulation with respect to who can enter a dispensary. Just who can purchase.

Can you quote the relevant section of HB2612 (the "unity" bill) that says that such a database is allowed/will be created?

What I can find is this, and it (especially the bolded part) doesn't jibe with what you're saying:

SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 427.7 of Title 63, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. The Authority shall create a medical marijuana use registry of patients and caregivers as provided under this section. The handling of any records maintained in the registry shall comply with all relevant state and federal laws including, but not limited to, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
B. The medical marijuana use registry shall be accessible to Oklahoma-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries to verify the license of a patient or caregiver by the twenty-four-character identifier.
C. All other records regarding a medical marijuana licensee shall be maintained by the Authority and shall be deemed confidential. The handling of any records maintained by the Authority shall comply with all relevant state and federal laws including, but not limited to, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Such records shall be marked as confidential, shall not be made available to the public and shall only be made available to the licensee, designee of the licensee, any physician of the licensee or the caregiver of the licensee. No personally identifiable information, as defined under HIPAA, shall be stored at the Department.
ENR. H. B. NO. 2612 Page 22
D. A log shall be kept with the file of the licensee to record any event in which the records of the licensee were made available and to whom the records were provided.
E. The Department shall ensure that all application records and information are sealed to protect the privacy of medical marijuana patient license applicants.

[Pete]

Never said there was a law preventing people without licenses to enter a dispensary but happen to know many require it as their own policy.

The point I was trying to make is that you don't get people hanging out around OK dispensaries as you see at liquor stores, chiefly because if that ever starts to be a problem, they can just change access requires in a way that will screen out anyone without a license.

[turnpup]

Couple of things I'm curious about: Are the licenses scanned at time of purchase, or just shown to the cashier? What about the purchases themselves? Is there any type of tracking of who buys what?

[TheTravellers]

Couple of things I'm curious about: Are the licenses scanned at time of purchase, or just shown to the cashier? What about the purchases themselves? Is there any type of tracking of who buys what?

Licenses don't have barcodes, just a 24-character license number (which is alphabetic, IIRC), the employees put that into the OMMA system, which says if it's valid or not (that's it, literally a yes or no comes back from the website). And there might be tracking info at the dispensary with their POS system, but nothing ever goes back to OMMA about who purchases what.