Navigating Senate Bill 1704's Credentialing Requirement in Oklahoma's Medical Marijuana Industry
Senate Bill 1704, passed in 2022, introduces a major shift in the medical marijuana industry in Oklahoma. This comprehensive legislation, which revises penalties for unauthorized sales and sets up procedures for revoking licenses in cases of marijuana diversion, notably establishes a credentialing system for employees in licensed medical marijuana businesses. This system, coming into effect from January 1, 2024, is vital for compliance.
The Credentialing Requirement
Beginning from January 1, 2024, all employees working for a medical marijuana business licensee must apply for and obtain an official credential. This new regulation stipulates that every medical marijuana business license holder is now responsible for ensuring that each of their employees is issued this mandatory credential. The initial application period for employee credentials is now open and employees must apply by January 31, 2024. Under SB 1704, an "employee" in the medical marijuana industry is defined as anyone who:
Grows, harvests, dries, cures, purchases, sells, transfers, transports, processes, produces, manufactures, creates, or packages medical marijuana, medical marijuana products, and/or medical marijuana waste for a licensed commercial grower, processor, or dispensary.
Samples, trains, or educates at a medical marijuana licensed education or research facility.
Disposes of or transports medical marijuana, medical marijuana products, and/or medical marijuana waste for a licensed medical marijuana waste disposal facility.
Tests or conducts research on medical marijuana and/or medical marijuana products at a licensed testing laboratory.
Transports, stores, distributes (without taking ownership) medical marijuana and/or medical marijuana products for a licensed commercial transporter.
Tracks, traces, reports, and/or inputs information into the State inventory tracking system for a medical marijuana commercial licensee.
Engages in any other additional business activities for the benefit of a medical marijuana commercial licensee as authorized under OAC 442:10.
Applications for credentials must be submitted through a your existing OMMA Thentia portal. A background check by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is required with the application, dated within 30 days of the application submission.
The application comes with a $30 fee. These credentials, once obtained, are valid until January 31st of the following year, requiring annual renewal to ensure continued compliance with state regulations.
The introduction of this credentialing system under Senate Bill 1704 is one of many significant steps towards a more regulated and structured medical marijuana market in Oklahoma. It's essential for all employees and employers in the industry to understand and adhere to these new requirements to ensure continued operation within this evolving landscape. For more information and answers to frequently asked questions, you can visit OMMA’s employee credentialing page
If you need assistance with your employee credentialing process, contact us today. We can complete the process end-to-end to keep you compliant and focused on your operations.
