A surprising oasis for medical marijuana: Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA (NewsNation Now) – When you think of Oklahoma, marijuana probably isn’t a thing you associate with the state.

Drive approximately 40 miles northeast of Oklahoma City and you will land on Chip Baker’s one hundred acre farm.

At first glance, it looks like a piece of land in rural Oklahoma. Spacious fields with work sheds and greenhouse tunnels. Roosters move freely next door.

Open the barn door and the golden light does not show amber grain waves, but a different type of cash harvest.

It’s a marijuana operation and it’s all “baker’s brand”.

“Tokelahoma, Cushlahoma, Weedlahoma [and] Gongelahoma, ”says Baker, are just a few of the brands he sells.

“I think Lester Grinspoon said it best when he said,” I smoke marijuana every opportunity I get. “And it’s true! Every chance I do! exclaimed Baker.

Baker has grown weeds around the world since he was 13. From the forests of Georgia and the lakes of Switzerland to Colorado and California.

“I love California weed, I love California growers. But there is a certain snobbery and we did everything, ”said Baker. “But like in Oklahoma, it’s this novelty, adventure, that’s partly why we’re here.”

The 48-year-old and his wife Jessica moved to Oklahoma a few years ago after 57 percent of statewide voters literally green-lit medical marijuana through State Question 788.

David Lewis is a lifelong Oklahoman and Coo of Stability Cannabis, one of the largest indoor grow facilities in the state.

“I think people underestimate how much this was a culture shock. It was a state where you couldn’t buy wine in a grocery store, but we did get past medical marijuana, ”explained Lewis. “Born and raised in Oklahoma, I never thought that we would have nearly 400,000 patients using medical marijuana. It is shocking.”

According to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, there are more than 380,000 Oklahomans with active medical marijuana cards, about 10 percent of the population. That’s more than any other state in the country and twice as much as New Mexico, which comes in second.

In a state whose politics are as red as its filth, the numbers seem almost wrong.

“Oklahoma and Texas are home to the illegal land, right? Just because people are conservative or work in the countryside or fish or hunt for relaxation or even go to church doesn’t stop them from using and enjoying cannabis, “Baker said.

“I would say we look around the community in your community and that is our customer base,” added Lewis.

They are consumers who, like Taly Frantz-Holly, come out of the shadows.

“I’ve been on the black market for cannabis, as a smoker and everything, since I was 19,” said Frantz-Holly.

She has PTSD and says certain prescription pills have made her suicidal. She found relief in cannabis.

“I took 8 medications – 8 medical pills every day. And now I’ve dropped to 2. I only have panic attacks once every few weeks and panic attacks every day, ”explained Frantz-Holly.

Frantz-Holly says the plant undoubtedly saved her life. So in love with its medicinal powers, she is now growing it herself.

“When I was 21 years old, I literally got drug charges for a joint. And did 30 days in the county jail. For a joint! And now I’m collecting 75 marijuana plants to go home to my commercial grow, ”said Frantz-Holly.

She is not alone. There are 7,000 other commercial growers across the state. Baker says it has never been easier or cheaper to get into the business.

“Oklahoma just made it so easy to get involved that the average and normal person could,” said Baker. “There are simply no limits here.”

The registration fee for growers, processors, pharmacies, and transportation companies is $ 2,500. It’s $ 100 for patients. $ 20 for disabled veterans. Baker says it took him 15 minutes to apply in other states? He waited two years.

“If you look back at the political cycles, Oklahoma is the redest of the red states. And I think what was reflected in medical marijuana was a free market approach, ”said Baker. “The government wanted the free market to determine who the winners and losers would be. As a result, they saw very limited restrictions on how to enter the market and many people participated.”

And many doctors, especially during a pandemic, have signed cards for patients with anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

“Oh, COVID was a boom for the industry! It turns out that when you’re trapped at home with your kids and in-laws, you need to take a bit more medication every now and then, ”said Lewis.

“The other thing is that people don’t share that much cannabis because of COVID. So people had their own cups and their own joints, ”Baker explained.

According to Baker, the business grew by 50 percent across the industry last year.

If you’re surprised by Oklahoma’s booming numbers, Baker says it shouldn’t be you. People just couldn’t talk about it, they could sing it.

“Oklahoma has a history of cannabis. The Canadian Ragweed Cross, the famous song from 20 years ago. Oklahoma boys roll their joints incorrectly. It is famous! It’s been famous for years! “said Baker.