Oklahoma House Republicans are moving forward with a package of bills aimed at better regulating medical marijuana in the state.
That includes cutting out illegal growing operations.
“Illegal marijuana grows end now. The black market isn’t a free market,” House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, said in a news release. “This comprehensive plan aggressively attacks the spread of illegal marijuana operations statewide, as the people of Oklahoma have demanded.”
The lawmakers held a news conference Monday to discuss their 12-point plan:
- Making the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority a standalone agency
- A grant program for county sheriff’s departments to fund law enforcement efforts in every county
- Full implementation of a seed to sale system (either via court order or new legislation)
- Provisional licensing requiring pre-license inspections and increased document submission prior to approval
- Tiered grow license fees based on grow size
- Separate licensing for medical marijuana wholesalers
- All medical marijuana businesses to post standardized permit signage at the place of business
- Stringent electrical and water data reporting by marijuana growers
- Annual inspections
- Product packaging standards and maximum beyond use dates
- Standardized laboratory testing and equipment
- Marijuana grows to register as environmentally sensitive crop owners with the Agriculture Department
A working group of lawmakers teamed with people in the industry, regulators and law enforcement to develop the plan.
Marijuana grown in Oklahoma can only be consumed in Oklahoma, and the lawmakers who worked on this plan say there’s an excess of marijuana being grown in the state, some of which police have connected to organized crime and drug trafficking.
“All these bills work together to create a multifaceted, synergistic approach to extinguish illegal growing and distributing while focusing on product safety and public health,” said working group member, T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow.
“Oklahoma is open for legal business. Legitimate businesses will rise and illegal operators will fall under this package.”
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