Oklahoma Gov. Signs Massive Bill Package to Overhaul Medical Cannabis Industry

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) on Friday signed several bills aiming to further regulate the state’s medical cannabis program, including a two-year moratorium on new licenses, State Impact Oklahoma reports. Stitt had previously signed legislation to increase penalties for medical cannabis diversion and make the state’s Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) a standalone agency.

Included in the bill package is:

• HB4056, which requires a private laboratory under contract with OMMA to provide a list of recommendations for cannabis testing equipment, testing standards, and operating procedures. Starting in June 2024, laboratories renewing their licenses and would be new laboratories will have to comply with those standards.
• HB3752, which requires commercial cultivators to restore the land to its original condition before abandoning the site.
• HB3929, a bill to develop standards for process validation, which would be voluntary. Under the measure, licensees would use the seed-to-sale system, meet testing requirements, and pay a $5,000 annual fee.
• SB1704, which implements a system of credentialing for cannabis industry employees. It allows one or more third-party vendors to conduct background checks, verify eligibility, and suitability and allow rejected applicants to appeal the decision to OMMA.
• SB1737, which requires all commercial outdoor cultivators to register with the state Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry as environmentally sensitive crop owners, providing notice to nearby pesticide applicators in an effort to minimize pesticide drift. The measure also requires growers to post signage.
• HB3530 uses cannabis-derived funds to create a County Sheriff Public Safety Grant Revolving Fund.
• HB3019 requires cannabis purchased at dispensaries to be contained in an opaque bag, or exit package, which includes warnings.
• HB3971, which implements a secret shopper program run by OMMA in which employees would purchase cannabis and send it for testing.
• HB2179 increases the annual fee for cultivators based on canopy size, for processers based on the amount of cannabis processed, for dispensaries based on a tax formula, and a flat fee for testing labs.
• SB1726 adds commercial grow facilities to the list of businesses that must be located at least 1,000 feet from a public or private school.

The OMMA, which will be responsible for implementing and regulating most of these reforms, will have its first director as a standalone agency on November 1. The director will be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.