By On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Senate approved a law targeting the illegal cannabis industry, requiring medical marijuana businesses to provide proof that they legally occupy the land on which they operate. . The measures are Senate Bill 806was approved by the state Senate in a 41-1 vote on Tuesday and now heads to the state House of Representatives for consideration.
The law is one of dozens of bills designed to control Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry and was introduced earlier this month following the defeat of a ballot initiative to legalize adult-use cannabis. Senator Brent Howard, the author of Senate Bill 806, said the bill was designed to help law enforcement regulate medical marijuana. If Gov. Kevin Stitt signed into law, the law would limit the number of medical marijuana businesses that can list the same address on their license applications.
“Those who regulate our medical marijuana industry are facing a problem by locating the facility, using that one address, and knowing that all licensees store their product there. .” howard said On Senate Bill 806. This measure will limit the number of licenses that can be placed at one address in order to improve regulation and stop illegal business activities. “
Under the bill, applicants for a medical marijuana business license must provide proof that they own or rent real estate at the address listed on their application. Such evidence may consist of a copy of the executed deed of assignment or signed lease of the property. Addresses or physical locations are not permitted to have multiple licenses within the same medical marijuana license category. The bill is designed to help the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) and the State Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) identify medical marijuana businesses that operate without the necessary licenses from the state. .
“By requiring full disclosure of ownership, OMMA and OBN can ensure that illegal operations and malicious aliens are not exploiting Oklahoma lands and citizens,” Howard said. increase. “This bill also ensures that we know no one is buying straws for illegal alien owners who come in after the first application.”
Oklahoma’s Recreational Weed Control Failed This Month
Senate Bill 806 is one of several bills introduced by State Quest 788 in 2018 to help regulate medical marijuana legalized in Oklahoma. License fees for cannabis businesses are only $2,500 and there are no limits. By the number of cannabis dispensaries, Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry has grown rapidly to become one of the largest in the nation.
State Question 788 also has few restrictions on eligibility for medical marijuana cards, and the number of registered patients now represents nearly 10% of the state’s population. As of November 2022, Oklahoma has more than 2,300 medical marijuana dispensaries, more than gas stations in the state. according to reports From local media.
Earlier this month, the state’s Republican governor said Oklahoma’s medical marijuana program was a major factor in the failure of a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in the March 7 special election. His State Question 820 proposal was rejected by nearly 62 people. Percentage of voters.
“From what I heard, marijuana grown in Oklahoma is enough to supply the entire United States. Stitt said After State Question 820 failed in the polls. “This was supposed to be about medical use in Oklahoma, but it got out of hand.”
“When I was traveling through the state, I knew Oklahomans didn’t want that,” Stitt added.
Since then, legislators have submitted Dozens of cannabis-related bills for legislation this year. This week, Attorney General Gentner Drummond praised Oklahoma lawmakers for passing three of his bills, including Senate Bill 806.
“Illegal marijuana cultivation operations in Oklahoma pose a serious threat to public safety, especially to rural areas invaded by organized criminals from China and Mexico.” drummond said in a statement Tuesday. “As the state’s chief law enforcement officer, I am committed to working with Oklahoma’s law enforcement agencies to achieve justice and restore peaceful order.”
