Oklahoma to Revise Medical Cannabis Statute

Oklahoma’s House Bill 2646 would make minor changes to the state’s already established medical cannabis guidelines and regulations. It would clear up any uncertainty and provide more regulation for the growing industry.

According to the bill summary, some of the critical changes HB 2646 would make to the medical cannabis statute are as follows:

• The State Department of Health (OSDH) would have 90 days to review a grower, processor, or dispensary license application instead of two weeks.
• The bill would allow an individual to put a medical cannabis dispensary near school properties that are not used for classroom instruction curriculum and are not on the same campus as a building used for such do not constitute a school.
• In addition to rehabilitation, the bill would allocate 25% of the 7% sales tax to the OSDH from drug and alcohol prevention.
• The bill would require medical cannabis businesses to submit a certificate of compliance with relevant zoning codes when requesting to change locations.
• The legislation would no longer require the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) or ODSH to notify a business 24 hours before inspection or investigation.
• It puts penalties in place for medical cannabis businesses who inaccurately or fraudulently report sales or purchases.
• Would permit the ODSH to issue a written order to any licensee suspected to violate rules and regulations unless he or she was given a written warning 30 days prior. Unless the licensee requests an administrative hearing within 30 days after receiving the order, the hearing becomes final.
• Prohibits individuals involved in management operations of a medical cannabis business or facility who had its license revoked, not renewed or surrendered from certain violations from receiving a business, research facility, education facility or waste disposal facility license.
• Forbid testing laboratories contracted with the OMMA from being owned or employing any individual who has interest in a medical cannabis business or any individual or family member who has a pending licensing application, is a member of the board of directors or is individually financially interested in any medical cannabis license or business.
• It would no longer require medical cannabis products to have a label indicating the product contains Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
  

RELATED: Oklahoma House Passes Bill to Limit Medical Cannabis Licenses

A complete list of revisions can be found here.

The legislation will head to the Senate Appropriations Committee next for approval.