Everything You Need to Know about OMMA Timely Renewal Rules

Oklahoma cannabis businesses need to pay close attention to the details in Senate Bill 1939, which officially reshaped the OMMA license renewal process last year. The bill, which first took effect on November 1, 2024, included a 120-day grace period, meaning the new rules are now fully in place as of March 1, 2025. These changes could have serious operational consequences for businesses that don’t plan ahead.

Previously, cannabis businesses had until midnight on their expiration date to submit a renewal application. As long as it was filed before that deadline, the license remained active while OMMA processed the application, even if approval took weeks or months. That safety net is now gone. Under the new rules, if a renewal application is not submitted within the proper time frame, a business could be forced to halt operations while waiting for OMMA approval—regardless of how long that takes.

Image from omma.ok.gov

The key deadline to remember is 60 days before expiration. Submitting your renewal at least 60 days ahead of time ensures your license remains active while OMMA processes the application. If you submit within 59 days of expiration, your business must shut down on the expiration date and remain closed until OMMA grants approval. Given that some applications from 2022 and 2023 are still unprocessed, this delay could be devastating.

If a license does expire, there’s a 60-day window to submit a late renewal application, but it comes at a steep cost—$500 per week in late fees. As always, businesses that miss even that window will have to start from scratch with an entirely new license application.

The takeaway is simple: submit your renewal at least 60 days before your expiration date to keep your business running without interruption. The OMMA’s history of slow processing makes it risky to cut it close. If you’re unsure about compliance, now is the time to act.

Gies Law Firm specializes in keeping Oklahoma cannabis businesses in compliance and operational. If your renewal deadline is approaching, don’t wait—contact us today to ensure your application is submitted on time and avoid costly disruptions.