In 2018, Oklahoma legalized medical marijuana through a statewide ballot measure. This led to a surge in licensed weed businesses in the loosely controlled industry. However, with this growth came concerns about the safety and quality of cannabis products being sold.
To address these concerns, the state has implemented a new law that went into effect this year – House Bill 3971 (HB 3971). This law authorizes the use of secret shoppers to regulate the medical marijuana industry and protect consumers from potentially harmful products.
But why was a secret shopper program necessary in the first place? The answer lies in the sometimes corrupt and subjective nature of lab testing for cannabis products. Without proper regulation, businesses can easily manipulate lab results or sell products that do not meet safety standards. This is where the secret shopper program comes in – as an additional layer of quality control to ensure that consumers are getting safe and high-quality products.
Secret Shopper Program
The use of secret shoppers is not a new concept in the world of regulation. Many industries, such as retail and hospitality, have long relied on secret shoppers to monitor customer service and quality control. However, the implementation of this program for the medical marijuana industry is a first for Oklahoma.
Oklahoma State Rep Josh West, one of the sponsors of HB 3971, told FOX25, “Constituents, people in the industry, people outside of the industry, the average public, they wanted some checks and balances in place.”
Authorized by HB 3971, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) plays a crucial role in this program. The agency is responsible for carrying out secret shopper inspections of licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, with a minimum of 50 being inspected annually. These randomly selected dispensaries will then be subjected to lab testing to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
Furthermore, starting in 2025, the program will ramp up to inspect at least 10% of all licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in Oklahoma annually. This increased oversight shows the state’s commitment to protecting consumer safety and ensuring that all businesses are held to the same standards.
While the law was passed in 2022, the implementation of HB 3971 was not planned until this year in 2024. This delay was intentional, as the state wanted to give OMMA some time to work through implementing the program.
Benefits for Consumers
One of the primary benefits of the secret shopper program is that it will help ensure the safety and quality of medical marijuana products for consumers. By conducting random inspections and lab testing, businesses will be held accountable for their products, and any “bad actors” in the market can be identified and penalized or removed.
Moreover, this program also standardizes regulations for all licensed dispensaries in Oklahoma. With secret shoppers and lab testing, all businesses will be held to the same standards, creating a level playing field in the industry. This will build consumer trust and confidence in the products they are purchasing.
“If I have a dispensary, I’m going to ensure that not only myself, but that my employees know at any point that someone can come in there and make sure they’re following the laws,” Rep. West said. “So I think that it will be a positive thing for the industry, and at the end of the day it’s a positive thing for the consumers.”
When FOX25 reached out for comment, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority declined to offer any further details about the secret shopper program.
“We appreciate the public’s interest in our ongoing efforts to implement new state laws. We will provide the latest information on our website, social media channels and newsletters.”
Overall, the implementation of a secret shopper program in Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry is a positive step towards protecting consumer safety and ensuring high-quality products. The use of secret shoppers will help identify any potential issues with lab testing and hold businesses accountable for their products.
Additionally, this program will standardize regulations for all licensed dispensaries, creating a fair market for both businesses and consumers.
While this program may not have been necessary if lab testing was less corrupt and subjective, it serves as a crucial safeguard for consumers in the current landscape. Hopefully, other states will follow suit and implement similar programs to ensure the safety and quality of medical marijuana products nationwide.
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