The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority cut its staff Tuesday by 10%, letting go between 25 and 30 employees, a reflection of the shrinking industry.
"With commercial license numbers decreasing, it was imperative we find efficiencies in our operations to ensure we are nimble and ready for future endeavors," Executive Director Adria Berry said in a prepared statement released after meetings with employees.
Berry also cited a "limited appropriated budget."
The state Legislature set the agency's budget for fiscal year 2024 at $37 million. The OMMA requested a 23.7% increase for 2025, or $45.8 million. The Legislature agreed to allocate $41.9 million.
It wasn't long ago that OMMA had a desperate need for more employees, mostly field inspectors, to clear an administrative backlog caused by strict new regulations on owning a cannabis business. The newly independent state agency has also been a source of frustration for some working in the industry, who criticize it for being inefficient and opaque.
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