Oklahoma has what many consider to be the only free-enterprise medical cannabis industry in the U.S., with cheap startup fees, no cap on medical cannabis business licenses and few limits on who can get a patient card. But this low barrier to entry could lead to an oversaturated market where cannabis businesses struggle to survive.
Jessica Baker, owner of Bakers Cannabis Dispensary in northwest Oklahoma City, has witnessed the growing pains other young cannabis industries like Oklahoma’s have experienced over her two decade career in the business. “People were ordering lights and soil and nutrients,” Jessica said.
Oklahoma has some of the cheapest annual commercial licensing fees in the country at $2,500, especially compared to California where licensing fees can reach six figures and range depending on estimated annual gross revenue.
But the flip side to Oklahoma’s low barrier of entry for starting a medical cannabis business is the pressure it puts on the market.
Read more at kgou.org