Oklahoma's Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control (OBNDD) director Donnie Anderson sent a letter to cannabis industry operators Friday warning that medical marijuana businesses must complete a new DEA registration form released alongside the Trump administration's federal cannabis rescheduling move.
Citing state law, Anderson wrote that "every registrant who is a distributor or manufacturer of medical marijuana products must comply with federal law and, as such, shall be required to obtain a DEA registration." Failure to comply could trigger OBNDD administrative sanctions up to revocation of a registrant's OBNDD registration(s), consistent with requirements for other Schedule III registrants.
OBNDD will not pursue action against businesses lacking DEA registration until January 1, 2027, provided they apply within 60 days of the Final Order's April 28, 2026 publication date. Timely applicants won't face sanctions while their applications remain pending; those who miss the window risk revocation. Anderson said the letter is informational, not legal advice, and directed compliance questions to legal counsel.
The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA), which licenses and regulates the industry, released separate guidance earlier this week on federal rescheduling and a lawsuit recently filed challenging it. OMMA Executive Director Adria Berry described the situation as an evolving federal conversation and urged licensees to seek professional counsel for their compliance decisions.
Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) called during his February State of the State address for voters to "shut it down," accusing "liberal activists" of misleading the state. Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton (R) pushed back, saying it would be very difficult to undo legalization and unfair to licensees who invested their savings in the program. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R) also dismissed the idea, noting that voters have backed medical cannabis while rejecting adult-use legalization. Attorney General Gentner Drummond (R) said he would "love" to end the program but warned it would require reimbursing hundreds of licensees. Stitt has claimed productive legislative conversations and expects the matter to return to voters.
In November, Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action (ORCA) withdrew its adult-use legalization initiative for the 2026 ballot after missing the petition submission deadline.
