Gov. Stitt praises Medical Marijuana Authority, Bureau of Narcotics for enforcement efforts

Governor Stitt Commends Medical Marijuana Authority, Bureau of Narcotics for Enforcement Efforts

OKLAHOMA CITY (August 22, 2025) - Today, Governor Kevin Stitt commended the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) on their successful ongoing efforts to reduce illegal marijuana grows and other criminal activity in the state.

“In 2022, I made it a top priority to crack down on our out-of-control medical marijuana industry,” said Governor Stitt. “Director Berry, Director Anderson, and our county sheriffs have worked tirelessly to accomplish that by removing illegal grows, addressing human trafficking, and protecting Oklahomans. They do so without seeking accolades or recognition. I am grateful for their service and their commitment to the safety and well-being of all four million Oklahomans."

Since 2022, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics has seized 1.7 million illegal marijuana plants, 181,000 pounds of processed marijuana, and made 302 arrests.

“In 2022, OBN established full-time statewide Marijuana Enforcement Teams (OBN MET) to address the escalating presence of criminal organizations setting up marijuana operations in Oklahoma,” said OBN Director Donnie Anderson. “OBN MET Agents have targeted operations tied to black market trafficking and obtaining an OBN Registration by fraud using 'straw ownership' schemes. Over the past four years, the OBN MET enforcement and agency administrative actions have resulted in a dramatic reduction of illegal marijuana operations in our state. I am grateful to our local, state, and federal partners which have provided invaluable assistance and resources in our efforts to combat these criminal grow operations.”  

OMMA has worked tirelessly to place common-sense guardrails around the medical marijuana industry. Since its inception, OMMA has worked to root out bad actors and illegal operations in the industry. In December of 2021, there were 13,785 commercial licenses and 9,402 grows. Today, there are 5,217 commercial licenses and 2,680 grows.

"OMMA, working hand-in-hand with partner agencies, is leading efforts to dismantle and deter criminal organizations attempting to hide behind an OMMA license," said OMMA Executive Director Adria Berry. "The thousands of administrative cases we’ve filed, the hundreds of investigations we’ve conducted and the criminal cases we’ve referred to law enforcement over the past years are proof of that. While collaboration across state government is important, these results clearly reflect the direct work and commitment of OMMA."

County law enforcement has been invaluable in addressing criminal marijuana operations and human trafficking rings, assisting in raids, and arresting those engaged in criminal behavior.

“Oklahoma sheriffs have greatly benefitted from the strong partnership with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics in addressing illegal marijuana grow operations, many of which have direct ties to cartels and transnational criminal organizations,” said Logan County Sheriff Damon Devereaux, president of the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association. “These operations have had a significant and detrimental impact on communities across our state. The Bureau’s expertise, manpower, and resources have been invaluable in supporting sheriffs statewide, and I’m sincerely appreciative of their continued commitment to safeguarding Oklahoma.”