Medical marijuana; requiring medical marijuana business employees to submit proof of completion of education training; effective date.

Medical marijuana worker credentials and training

The act takes effect November 1, 2025. The credential framework requires employees of licensed Oklahoma medical marijuana businesses to get a work credential starting January 1, 2024. Workers must complete required training and submit proof with their credential application. Beginning January 1, 2027, all covered employees must complete training every year through a course provided or approved by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority. Training may cover state rules, patient privacy, and safe marijuana handling and storage. The Authority may hire outside vendors to check workers' backgrounds and eligibility, and sets credentialing service costs and prices. The law gives no dollar amount for training or credentials. Credential approval requires a national fingerprint-based background check through the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation within 30 days before application. The Authority verifies eligibility, decides applications, and issues approved credentials, which workers must wear or display during work hours. Rejection and denial notices must explain the reason. Applications that fail standards can be rejected; resubmitted applications with missing information or nonclerical errors can be denied after a 30-day reconsideration window. Workers can appeal a vendor's finding that they fail minimum requirements to the Authority, but have no recourse against the vendor. Vendors are protected from civil liability for good-faith work under the law and related rules. The Authority's Executive Director can issue rules to carry out these requirements.