New Rules for Medical Cannabis Recommendations in Oklahoma Take Effect January 1

New requirements for physicians looking to participate in Oklahoma’s medical cannabis program take effect January 1, KJRH reports. The new rules require doctors to complete an initial education course to register with the state Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) before they can recommend medical cannabis to patients. 

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) in May. Previously, the state’s rules only required physicians to be in good standing with their professional boards and consider “accepted standards a reasonable and prudent physician would follow” before making a patient recommendation for medical cannabis use. 

Doctors who don’t register and complete the program will be unable to recommend medical cannabis as of January 1, and patients who apply to the program using those physicians will be rejected. 

The state offers three classes for physicians seeking to participate in the program, and doctors are required to take at least one of the courses:

Currently, there are about 260 physicians registered to recommend medical cannabis to patients in the state, according to OMMA data.