Oklahoma Moratorium on New Cannabis Businesses Extended to 2026

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt renewed his moratorium against new medical cannabis businesses. Stitt signed the legislation in May 2022 which went into effect August 2022. It was due to expire August 2024. The moratorium has been extended until August 1, 2020. This was done by signing HB-2095 in early this month.

According to Oklahoma News4, the bill grants authority to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office and to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangers Drugs Control to regulate the medical cannabis in the state. The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangers Drugs Control, and the State Bureau of Investigation will be able to manage medical cannabis regulation in the state, according to a news report from a href=”https://kfor.com/news/local/bill-that-cracks down on illegal marijuana grows has been signed into law/”>Oklahoma News4/a>.

HB-2095 states it is illegal for medical marijuana growers to hire undocumented migrants, and establishes a rule stating only one cultivation permit may be used at a single property or address.

Oklahoma Attorney General Getner Drummond has commended the Governor for his actions against illegal marijuana activity. I want to thank Gov. Drummond thanked Stitt as well as Rep. Echols, and Sen. Paxton for the tremendous progress Oklahoma has made in its efforts to eradicate illegal marijuana-growing operations. The illegal marijuana business is rife with Mexican cartels, and Chinese criminal syndicates who pose a grave threat to the public’s safety. This is especially true in rural areas. Gov. Stitt’s support of HB-2095 gives the Attorney General’s Office, and our law enforcement partners the authority and tools to stop these criminal enterprises.”

Oklahoma’s medical marijuana program has seen rapid growth since its first licenses in August 2018 were granted. Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority received about 1,600 applications on the day licenses became available. OMMA is expected to have issued 400,000 licenses for medical cannabis by January 2022.

Oklahoma voters voted on the recreational cannabis initiative, State Question 820 in March of this year. Supporters of the measure remain determined despite only 38% voting in its favor. Brian Vicente, of Vicente LLP, told High Times there is “still more work” to do in regards to legalization.

Stitt spoke to reporters immediately after the results of the vote. Stitt spoke with reporters about the outcome of the ballot measure. Stitt stated that “I didn’t expect it to fail so badly, but I could tell as I traveled the state I Oklahomans did not want it.” They were tired of dispensaries on every corner.

Stitt said that while he supports allowing patients to access medical marijuana if they can benefit from it, he does not believe “anyone with a hangingnail” should be eligible for a card.

He said that Oklahoma has enough marijuana to meet the demand of all Americans. Stitt said, “That’s not what it is meant to be.” Stitt said, “This was intended to be used for medical purposes in Oklahoma. It has now gotten out of hand. We have to eliminate the bad actors. “We have to take control of that industry.”

After the failure of State Question 8,20, other legislation has been introduced that targets the illegal industry as well as some of its problems.

Senate Bill 813, introduced in this month’s legislative session, would have required a $50,000 deposit for anyone who obtained a license to grow marijuana. If a property is abandoned and the cultivation area needs to be cleaned up, funds are provided. This bill will allow OMMA, or other state agencies, to recover costs related to the clean-up of valuable farmland damaged by illegal activities. Darcy Jech. SB-913 has been signed by Governor. Stitt on April 20.

The original post Oklahoma Moratorium for New Cannabis Businesses Extended to 2026 was published first on High Times.