Noncompliance is a dispensary killer. Not following regulations is the easiest way to get fined, cited, or even shut down. If you have a cannabis dispensary in Oklahoma, use these tips to stay in compliance and open for business.
1. Establish security protocols.
Protecting inventory is a major responsibility for Oklahoma cannabusinesses. When compliance officers inspect your dispensary, they’ll want to know what steps you take to prevent theft and unauthorized access.
Start by investing in a high-quality security system. Then, use glass display cases, locks, signage, and other tools to keep customers from being able to physically handle cannabis products before purchase.
2. Respect transaction limits.
Oklahoma has strict rules surrounding how much cannabis customers can buy in a single transaction:
- 3 oz. of medical marijuana
- 1 oz. of concentrate
- 72 oz. of edible products
- 6 mature plants
- 6 seedling plants
You may be tempted to push these boundaries, but it’s not worth the risk. All it takes is one complaint or citation, and your dispensary could face fines or closure.
3. Screen your customers.
Recreational use isn’t legalized in Oklahoma, only medical. To that end, you can only sell cannabis products to qualified patients or their caregivers. When someone attempts to purchase from your dispensary, it’s your responsibility to make sure they’re authorized to do so.
First, make sure that the customer has a current Oklahoma medical marijuana license. There are three types:
- Patient license
- Caregiver license
- Temporary license for out-of-state residents
Then, verify that the photo on the license matches the person in front of you. You can also validate customers through the state database.
Whatever you do, don’t skip this step, even for regular clientele. Make it a habit, and screen customers for every transaction.
4. Track everything.
Dispensary owners in Oklahoma are required to track their entire inventory movement process. This means you have to keep detailed records of supply purchases, supply sales, and even supply disposal.
For every single transaction, you need to document the following:
- Customer name, license number, address, and phone number
- Quantity and type of medical marijuana purchased
- Batch number(s)
- Transaction date
- Purchase amount and monetary value of the sale
- POS and tax records
- Transportation manifests related to transporting the medical marijuana
Then, by the 15th of every month, you’ll need to submit dispensary reports to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA). These reports should include:
- Amount of marijuana purchased
- Amount of marijuana sold or transferred
- Explanation of any inventory discrepancies
- Total dollar amount of sales
- Total dollar amount of taxes collected
Furthermore, you’ll need to track your medical marijuana waste procedure, including weights or counts of disposed inventory and the disposal method used. You’re required to have a witness sign an affidavit attesting to the validity of your waste report and keep these records at your dispensary for up to seven years.
Conclusion
If this feels like a lot to keep track of, that’s because it is. Compliance in the Oklahoma cannabis industry is no joke, and all of these regulations can feel overwhelming. You can take some of the stress out of compliance protocol by investing in a compliance-oriented dispensary POS like BLAZE.
