Medical Marijuana Sales Soar Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Medical marijuana sales in Oklahoma spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing in about one million more dollars than expected.

People have been able to come and purchase medical marijuana, even during the pandemic, because dispensaries are considered essential businesses. 

The OMMA said they've had an increase in patient licenses but these numbers were surprising. 

APRIL 2019

1. Sales - $1.271,773.31
2. Taxes - $1,619,446.28
3. Total - $2,891,291.59

Into 2020 - Sales increased into the $3,000,000

April 2020

1. Sales - $4,301,519.68
2. Taxes - $5,478,393.36
3. Total - $9,779,913.04

Last April the state brought in just over $1.2 million in sales. Sales taxes, state and local, totaled about $1.6 million for a grand total of $3 million.

Going into the new year, the state did see sales into the three millions, but when you compare March's numbers to April's there's almost a one million dollar jump.

That means taxes were also up more than a million dollars for a whopping total approaching nearly $10 million.

"We had been anticipating a little bit, that we would see something," said OMMA Director Travis Kirkpatrick. "I don't know if we anticipated this much."

He said moving forward the hope is to continue to grow. 

"It's hard to tell," said Kirkpatrick. "I don't think that anyone would have said we would do a million dollars more than we did last month. And then I don't know if that's the rate that we'll grow at, but we'll still see a pretty healthy move toward, as we move into the summer months."

The OMMA director said the increase they've seen is a testament to those that have continued to work as essential businesses and his employees making sure those a part of the industry are supported.

The authority is coming up on their first patient renewal period.

With major milestones around corner, the director says he thinks the industry in Oklahoma is on a really healthy track.