“We looked at different states’ (registration numbers) and what they were saying” about their respective application rates to come up with an initial estimate of 80,000 for Oklahoma, Rollins said. “But from that background of trying to do research, our high estimate of 150,000 wasn’t even close, so I have been really shocked by that,” she said.

By the numbers

U.S. Census data indicates Oklahoma has a projected 3.943 million residents as of 2018. With nearly 140,000 patients on record as of June 17, Oklahoma’s registration rate is about 35 per 1,000 people.

Maine, the closest comparison, removed qualifying conditions from its law last year after medical marijuana became legal in 1999 and does not require patients to register with the state. The Office of Marijuana Policy in Maine released statistics showing a printed patient certification card rate of about 34.3 per 1,000 residents in 2018.

California, a state with both medical and recreational cannabis laws, also does not require patients to obtain an identification card to take advantage of its medical law, Proposition 215, which took effect in 1996.

However, organizations such as the Marijuana Policy Project estimate California has a registration rate of about 31 patients per 1,000 residents.