The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority

What Is the OMMA?

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) is the state agency responsible for overseeing every aspect of Oklahoma's medical cannabis program — patient registration, business licensing, compliance inspections, enforcement, and rulemaking. It is the single point of contact for patients, caregivers, businesses, and physicians in the state's cannabis ecosystem.

OMMA's jurisdiction covers more than 315,000 active patients and approximately 4,500 licensed businesses as of early 2026 — making it one of the largest cannabis regulatory agencies in the country by scope, even as the market has contracted significantly from its peak.

Creation and Evolution

OMMA's history mirrors the broader Oklahoma cannabis story — rapid creation under pressure, followed by expansion and eventual independence:

Phase 1: Department of Health (2018–2019)

When SQ 788 took effect on July 26, 2018, the Oklahoma Department of Health was responsible for implementing the program with almost no lead time. The department began accepting applications immediately, but the sheer volume of applications and the lack of a regulatory framework created enormous challenges.

Phase 2: OMMA Established (2019)

The Unity Bill (HB 2612), signed March 14, 2019, formally created OMMA as a division within the Department of Health. The new authority received dedicated staff, a defined mission, and the regulatory tools — including Metrc seed-to-sale tracking — needed to manage the rapidly growing industry.

Phase 3: Standalone Agency (November 1, 2022)

SB 1543 separated OMMA from the Department of Health and established it as an independent state agency, effective November 1, 2022. The transition reflected a recognition that Oklahoma's cannabis program had grown too large and complex to operate as a division of another agency. OMMA needed its own budget, its own leadership structure, and the autonomy to make regulatory decisions without navigating the health department's broader priorities.

Leadership

OMMA is led by Executive Director Adria Berry, who has served in the role since August 2021. Berry has overseen OMMA through its most challenging period — the standalone agency transition, the organized crime crisis, the market correction, and the implementation of the license moratorium. In June 2025, Berry was named president of the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA), the national organization of state cannabis regulatory agencies — a recognition of Oklahoma's significance in the national cannabis landscape despite (or perhaps because of) the challenges the state has faced.

Budget and Funding

OMMA operates on a FY2024 budget of approximately $37 million. A critical feature of the agency's funding model: OMMA is entirely fee- and fine-funded. Under SB 18X (2023), the agency receives no appropriation from the state's general fund or tax revenue. It is self-sustaining through:

• Patient and caregiver application fees ($100 standard, $20 reduced)
• Business license application fees ($2,500 for most license types)
• License renewal fees (tiered by business size under HB 2179)
• Employee credential fees ($30/year)
• Compliance fines and penalties

As the market has contracted and license applications have declined under the moratorium, OMMA's fee revenue has decreased. The agency downsized approximately 10% of its staff in July 2024 to align expenses with the smaller revenue base.

Scope of Responsibilities

Patient and Caregiver Registration

OMMA processes all patient card applications, caregiver registrations, and temporary out-of-state patient licenses. At peak, the agency managed nearly 387,000 active patients — roughly 10% of Oklahoma's population. Current active patients number approximately 315,000.

Business Licensing

OMMA administers 10 license types:

• Grower
• Processor
• Dispensary
• Transporter (standalone)
• Testing Laboratory
• Waste Disposal
• Research
• Education
• Employee Credential
• Temporary Out-of-State Patient

The license moratorium (HB 3208, signed August 2022) halted new grower, processor, and dispensary applications. As of March 2026, the legislature is considering extending the moratorium through August 2028 (HB 3143) and imposing a permanent cap of 2,550 grower licenses (HB 3144).

Compliance and Enforcement

OMMA conducts annual inspections of all licensed businesses, investigates complaints, and coordinates with law enforcement on diversion and illegal activity. The agency uses the Metrc seed-to-sale tracking system to monitor cannabis from cultivation through retail sale. OMMA works closely with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) and the Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) on enforcement actions against illegal operations.

Rulemaking

OMMA develops and updates the rules governing the medical cannabis program, including product testing standards, packaging requirements, advertising restrictions, and business operational requirements. Rules are promulgated through the state's Administrative Procedures Act with public comment periods.

Contact OMMA

Challenges Facing OMMA

• Shrinking revenue base. With the moratorium halting new license applications and the market contracting, OMMA's fee-funded model faces pressure. The 10% staff reduction in July 2024 was a direct consequence.
• Organized crime enforcement. Coordinating with OBN and the OCTF to identify and shut down illegally operated grows — over 7,000 closed to date — while still processing legitimate business renewals and inspections.
• Political uncertainty. Governor Stitt's 2026 State of the State remarks calling marijuana "one of the greatest threats to public safety" and suggesting a ballot measure to potentially eliminate the medical program create existential uncertainty for the agency.
• Market stabilization. Managing the transition from an oversupplied market of 13,000+ licenses to a sustainable industry of ~4,500 while maintaining patient access and product quality.

OMMA operates as an independent state agency, funded entirely through application fees, license fees, and fines — not from state tax revenue or general fund appropriations.

SB 18X (2023) — Oklahoma Legislature