Oklahoma Takes Steps to Prevent Medical Marijuana Packaging from Attracting Children
Starting November 1, Oklahoma will implement new regulations on medical marijuana packaging to prevent products from being appealing to children. The changes aim to eliminate packaging that resembles candy, making it more difficult for young people to access these products.
John Koumbis, owner of JKJ Processing, a medical marijuana processor, expressed concerns about the impact of the new law. “It’s going to cost processors money. It’s going to cost dispensaries money if they can’t liquidate the product by November 1,” he said. The law requires medical marijuana edible products, such as gummies, candies, and drinks, to have designs that do not attract children, cannot be made in child-appealing shapes, and cannot look like regular candy.
Koumbis also emphasized the need for clear guidelines on what is allowed on packaging. “We need clear-cut, verbiage… Like our Sohi bottles, you know, they have blueberries on them, and we have the word blueberry. So, the way we’re reading the law is we can’t have blueberries on here anymore because blueberries could be attractive to children,” he explained.
The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) has confirmed that it is prepared to enforce the law starting November 1. However, Koumbis is seeking more clarity on the new requirements, stating that the agency should provide precise instructions on what is allowed on packaging.
The goal of the law is to keep children safe by preventing them from accessing medical marijuana products that may be appealing to them. While the changes may cause some financial burden for processors and dispensaries, they aim to ensure that the industry operates responsibly and does not attract the wrong audience.
