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Barkin' About the Bite – Connecting the Dots on Oklahoma's MMJ Mess

By Gizmo · February 11, 2026 · ChronicDocs

Hey pack! Gizmo here, your favorite furry fact-finder from Chronic Brands. Woof! I've been sniffin' around the data from that Facebook live Carri did, and boy, oh boy, it's got my tail waggin' with questions. You know me – I love chasin' sticks, but today I'm chasin' stats. Let's connect the dots on what's happenin' to our MMJ industry in Oklahoma. From license drops to big money flows, and those capital critters barkin' about shutdowns – it's time to dig in. Grab a treat and let's go!The License Lowdown: Where'd Everybody Go?Remember when SQ 788 passed in 2018? It was like openin' a dog park – everyone rushed in! But now, it's lookin' like the gates are closin'. Here's the scoop from OMMA's own numbers:


  1. Dispensaries: Started strong with over 2,900 in 2023, but by 2025, we're down to about 1,565 – that's a 46% drop! Folks, that's like half the neighborhood pups disappearin' from playtime.
  2. Processors: From 1,792 in 2023 to just 873 in 2025 – a 51% plunge. And growers? Peaked at 9,178 in 2021, now sittin' at 2,680 (down 71%).
  3. Why the decline? That 2022 moratorium on new licenses (extended to 2026) is like a leash on growth. Plus, crackdowns on "bad actors" – over 1,000 administrative cases filed, thousands of licenses revoked or surrendered. OMMA's enforcin' hard, seizin' 1,995 pounds of illegal weed and embargoing 1,667 more in FY 2023 alone. But is it weedin' out the wrong ones?

Connectin' dots: The speaker asked for yearly declines – it's clear the industry's shrinkin' fast. Started with a boom (13,281 licenses in 2021), now total commercial licenses are under 5,000. That's not just market saturation; it's regulation squeezin' the life out. Small biz owners are gettin' hit hardest – jumpin' hoops like COOs (more on that below) while big dogs survive. Money Talks: Fees, Taxes, and Who Gets the Bone? The live chat dug into the dough – how much has OMMA raked in? Let's fetch the figures:


  1. License Fees to OMMA: Since 2018, patient fees alone hit $26M by 2022 (old data, but extrapolatin' from 350k+ patients at $100/pop – that's $35M+ per year in renewals/new apps). Commercial fees? Growers/processors/dispensaries pay $2,500 min (up to $50k+ tiered since 2023). Total rev from licenses/fines: OMMA's budget was $41.9M in FY 2025, mostly from these.
  2. Taxes Since SQ 788: Excise tax (7% on sales) brought in $541M from 2019-2023. Breakdown: 2019: $27M, 2020: $48M, 2021: $69M, 2022: $66M, 2023: $59M, 2024: $49M, 2025: $47M (est.). Cumulative: Over $365M excise alone. State/local sales tax adds another $4-5M/month. Total MMJ rev to state? Billions in sales gen $541M+ taxes by 2023.

Connectin' dots: Speaker wanted yearly fees/taxes – it's massive! But where's it goin'? 75% excess to education (over $325M to Redbud fund for schools), 25% to substance abuse. OMMA gets appropriated $37-45M yearly from fees. Yet Stitt/Drummond brag about "takin' down" the industry that's fundin' schools? That's like bitin' the paw that feeds ya!COO Chaos: The Hidden Hurdle That's Killin' Businesses Ah, the COO (Certificate of Occupancy) saga – speaker nailed it. Law changed in 2023 (SB 1635) requirin' COOs for all MMJ builds. Fees? State Fire Marshal or local: $425 plan review + $335 annual renewals (OSDH), plus city fees ($615-750 in OKC). Estimate when law passed (2023, ~8,700 licenses): If half needed new COOs, that's $2-4M in fees statewide.


  1. Closures Due to COOs: Thousands affected – OMMA rejected renewals without finalized COOs. Lawsuits in 2024 from growers over backlog; OBNDD denied registries without 'em. Exact number? No official total, but 1,700+ apps post-Feb 2024 deadline, many shut down (e.g., 3,730 distributors down to 1,777 overnight in one glitchy incident).
  2. Backlog/Shutdown Times: Fire Marshal backlog huge – pre-electronic: months/years. Post-March 2024 electronic: 45 days for non-MMJ, but MMJ hit 2,000+ apps overnight. Shutdowns: Businesses closed 6-12+ months waitin'. Data? Senate hearings 2025 pressed on it; Fire Marshal admitted understaffed, 1,700 apps lingerin'.


Connectin' dots: Speaker asked for backlog data – it's a disaster! Small biz poured life savin's, paid fees, jumped hoops, but state couldn't inspect fast enough. Result? Legit ops shuttered like criminals, while black market thrives. No other industry faces this scrutiny! Patient Power: Numbers That Bite Back


  1. Patients by Year: 2019: ~130k, 2020: 235k, 2021: 367k, 2022: 386k peak, 2023: 373k, 2024: 332k, 2025: 340k, 2026 (Jan): 340k. ~8-9% of OK pop (4M total).
  2. OMMA Patient Fees: $100/app + fees. Collected $26M by 2022; est. $35M/year now (from ~340k renewals/new).


Connectin' dots: 9% of OK has cards – that's voter power! Speaker compared to Stitt/Drummond votes: Stitt 2022: 639k (55%), Drummond: 792k (74%). MMJ patients: 340k+ – that's a bloc bigger than some election margins. Attacks on program ignore this!Stitt & Drummond's Bark: Summary of the Shade Since 788 (2018), Gov. Stitt and AG Drummond have been growlin' about MMJ. Stitt (2019-2026): Called it "out of control," pushed moratoriums (2022-2026), created crime task forces, bragged about busts (e.g., Operation Blunt Force 2025: seized 1,995 lbs illegal weed). In 2026 State of State: "Shut it down – plagued by criminals, foreign interests." Drummond (2023-): "Love to see it gone," formed organized crime task force, sued over inspections/backlogs, warned shutdown means reimbursin' biz (hundreds of millions). Media: Both tout "wins" like license drops (down 40%+), but ignore legit ops hit hardest. Connectin' dots: Speaker called 'em out – they're braggin' about killin' an industry voters wanted, that funds schools ($325M+ to Redbud), while cryin' about enforcement costs. No other sector gets this heat – small biz owners are "criminals"? Nah, that's the black market they created with over regulation! Gizmo's Final Fetch: Time to Howl Back! Woof, what a mess! The data shows an industry built by hard-workin' Oklahomans, pourin' billions into the economy, but gettin' kicked by capital bigwigs. Declines ain't natural – they're from hoops like COOs, fees, backlogs. Patients (9% of us!) outnumber Stitt's vote margin – time to vote 'em out or bark loud! Get active, pack – contact lawmakers, share this, renew your card. Chronic Brands is here fightin' for ya. Stay chronic, stay vigilant! Paws up! Gizmo out – catch ya on the flip side. Ruff! Hey pack! Gizmo here, your favorite furry fact-finder from Chronic Brands. Woof! I've been sniffin' around the data from that Facebook live Carri did, and boy, oh boy, it's got my tail waggin' with questions. You know me – I love chasin' sticks, but today I'm chasin' stats. Let's connect the dots on what's happenin' to our MMJ industry in Oklahoma. From license drops to big money flows, and those capital critters barkin' about shutdowns – it's time to dig in. Grab a treat and let's go! The License Lowdown: Where'd Everybody Go? Remember when SQ 788 passed in 2018? It was like openin' a dog park – everyone rushed in! But now, it's lookin' like the gates are closin'. Here's the scoop from OMMA's own numbers:


  1. Dispensaries: Started strong with over 2,900 in 2023, but by 2025, we're down to about 1,565 – that's a 46% drop! Folks, that's like half the neighborhood pups disappearin' from playtime.
  2. Processors: From 1,792 in 2023 to just 873 in 2025 – a 51% plunge. And growers? Peaked at 9,178 in 2021, now sittin' at 2,680 (down 71%).
  3. Why the decline? That 2022 moratorium on new licenses (extended to 2026) is like a leash on growth. Plus, crackdowns on "bad actors" – over 1,000 administrative cases filed, thousands of licenses revoked or surrendered. OMMA's enforcin' hard, seizin' 1,995 pounds of illegal weed and embargoing 1,667 more in FY 2023 alone. But is it weedin' out the wrong ones?


Connectin' dots: The speaker asked for yearly declines – it's clear the industry's shrinkin' fast. Started with a boom (13,281 licenses in 2021), now total commercial licenses are under 5,000. That's not just market saturation; it's regulation squeezin' the life out. Small biz owners are gettin' hit hardest – jumpin' hoops like COOs (more on that below) while big dogs survive.Money Talks: Fees, Taxes, and Who Gets the Bone?The live chat dug into the dough – how much has OMMA raked in? Let's fetch the figures:


  1. License Fees to OMMA: Since 2018, patient fees alone hit $26M by 2022 (old data, but extrapolatin' from 350k+ patients at $100/pop – that's $35M+ per year in renewals/new apps). Commercial fees? Growers/processors/dispensaries pay $2,500 min (up to $50k+ tiered since 2023). Total rev from licenses/fines: OMMA's budget was $41.9M in FY 2025, mostly from these.
  2. Taxes Since SQ 788: Excise tax (7% on sales) brought in $541M from 2019-2023. Breakdown: 2019: $27M, 2020: $48M, 2021: $69M, 2022: $66M, 2023: $59M, 2024: $49M, 2025: $47M (est.). Cumulative: Over $365M excise alone. State/local sales tax adds another $4-5M/month. Total MMJ rev to state? Billions in sales gen $541M+ taxes by 2023.

Connectin' dots: Speaker wanted yearly fees/taxes – it's massive! But where's it goin'? 75% excess to education (over $325M to Redbud fund for schools), 25% to substance abuse. OMMA gets appropriated $37-45M yearly from fees. Yet Stitt/Drummond brag about "takin' down" the industry that's fundin' schools? That's like bitin' the paw that feeds ya!COO Chaos: The Hidden Hurdle That's Killin' Businesses Ah, the COO (Certificate of Occupancy) saga – speaker nailed it. Law changed in 2023 (SB 1635) requirin' COOs for all MMJ builds. Fees? State Fire Marshal or local: $425 plan review + $335 annual renewals (OSDH), plus city fees ($615-750 in OKC). Estimate when law passed (2023, ~8,700 licenses): If half needed new COOs, that's $2-4M in fees statewide.


  1. Closures Due to COOs: Thousands affected – OMMA rejected renewals without finalized COOs. Lawsuits in 2024 from growers over backlog; OBNDD denied registries without 'em. Exact number? No official total, but 1,700+ apps post-Feb 2024 deadline, many shut down (e.g., 3,730 distributors down to 1,777 overnight in one glitchy incident).
  2. Backlog/Shutdown Times: Fire Marshal backlog huge – pre-electronic: months/years. Post-March 2024 electronic: 45 days for non-MMJ, but MMJ hit 2,000+ apps overnight. Shutdowns: Businesses closed 6-12+ months waitin'. Data? Senate hearings 2025 pressed on it; Fire Marshal admitted understaffed, 1,700 apps lingerin'.

Connectin' dots: Speaker asked for backlog data – it's a disaster! Small biz poured life savin's, paid fees, jumped hoops, but state couldn't inspect fast enough. Result? Legit ops shuttered like criminals, while black market thrives. No other industry faces this scrutiny!Patient Power: Numbers That Bite Back

  1. Patients by Year: 2019: ~130k, 2020: 235k, 2021: 367k, 2022: 386k peak, 2023: 373k, 2024: 332k, 2025: 340k, 2026 (Jan): 340k. ~8-9% of OK pop (4M total).
  2. OMMA Patient Fees: $100/app + fees. Collected $26M by 2022; est. $35M/year now (from ~340k renewals/new).

Connectin' dots: 9% of OK has cards – that's voter power! Speaker compared to Stitt/Drummond votes: Stitt 2022: 639k (55%), Drummond: 792k (74%). MMJ patients: 340k+ – that's a bloc bigger than some election margins. Attacks on program ignore this! Stitt & Drummond's Bark: Summary of the Shade Since 788 (2018), Gov. Stitt and AG Drummond have been growlin' about MMJ. Stitt (2019-2026): Called it "out of control," pushed moratoriums (2022-2026), created crime task forces, bragged about busts (e.g., Operation Blunt Force 2025: seized 1,995 lbs illegal weed). In 2026 State of State: "Shut it down – plagued by criminals, foreign interests." Drummond (2023-): "Love to see it gone," formed organized crime task force, sued over inspections/backlogs, warned shutdown means reimbursin' biz (hundreds of millions). Media: Both tout "wins" like license drops (down 40%+), but ignore legit ops hit hardest. Connectin' dots: Speaker called 'em out – they're braggin' about killin' an industry voters wanted, that funds schools ($325M+ to Redbud), while cryin' about enforcement costs. No other sector gets this heat – small biz owners are "criminals"? Nah, that's the black market they created with overregulation! Gizmo's Final Fetch: Time to Howl Back! Woof, what a mess! The data shows an industry built by hard-workin' Oklahomans, pourin' billions into the economy, but gettin' kicked by capital bigwigs. Declines ain't natural – they're from hoops like COOs, fees, backlogs. Patients (9% of us!) outnumber Stitt's vote margin – time to vote 'em out or bark loud! Get active, pack – contact lawmakers, share this, renew your card. Chronic Brands is here fightin' for ya. Stay chronic, stay vigilant! Paws up!


Gizmo out – catch ya on the flip side. Ruff!