OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Mike Hunter today advised the State Board of Health to convene a special meeting to amend the rules it passed regulating medical marijuana.
Attorney General Hunter said his advice is faithful to and in accordance with the new law created when Oklahomans voted in favor of State Question 788.
“The current rules contain provisions that are inconsistent with the plain language of State Question 788 and the State Board of Health acted outside of its authority when it voted to implement them,” Attorney General Hunter said. “Although I didn’t support State Question 788, the people of the state have spoken and I have a legal duty to honor the decision made by the electorate. My advice today is made pursuant to that responsibility as attorney general.
“Moving forward, I encourage all stakeholders to engage with the legislative working group looking at medical marijuana to ensure they have their concerns and recommendations heard and addressed by the legislature.”
Last week, the Board of Health approved emergency rules on medical marijuana, including smokable forms of medical marijuana would be banned from being sold in dispensaries. According to Interim Health Commissioner Tom Bates, licensed medical marijuana users would still be allowed to use it if it was grown themselves. Saying this though, there are many people who require the use of medical marijuana to help treat any ailments/conditions they are dealing with. So banning some will not be in everyone’s best interest. If it is banned, with there being the option of being able to buy weed online (if legal in your state) at least people will still have access. But banning is not the option. With these new regulations, dispensaries will have sure they are up to date with any legislation or regulation within the industry. Luckily there are businesses similar to Green Bits that may be able to help new dispensaries to abide by these rules. Hopefully, these rules won’t last though, as loads of people rely on medical marijuana to aid them with certain ailments. It just makes things a lot harder for people, and might actually mean that they suffer for no reason. It should be easy enough for them to access a company like this one here (https://pggroupmi.com/), in order to get the medical marijuana that they need. However, it seems that things will be a lot harder for the time being.
Soon after the emergency rules were released two lawsuits were filed against the Oklahoma State Department of Health due to the rules.
In a letter sent to Health Department Interim Director Tom Bates, the attorney general writes, the board’s role in limiting the forms of marijuana products is confined to food and safety standards that are in line with food preparation guidelines, not prohibiting the sale of smokable, vapable or other forms of marijuana such as edibles sold by companies such as 3Leaf Edibles. As the use of medical marijuana can help out a lot of people who have conditions and ailments like chronic pain, depression, anxiety and even sleep problems, the number of medical marijuana disepensaries are rising as this product becomes legalised in a number of states. The products with which to consume marijuana are growing day by day leading people trying to decide between a bong vs bubbler when it comes to their next purchase due to the extensive choices available.
Attorney General Hunter also took issue with the board’s action to require dispensaries to hire a pharmacist, writing, “the board has not been given any express or implied statutory authority to impose additional requirements on licensees. Thus, the board rules improperly require every licensed dispensary to have “a current licensed pharmacist” present “on-site at least 40 hours per week.” Nothing in the text of State Question 788 expressly or impliedly authorizes this rule.”
Other concerns outlined in the letter include:
- Restricting dispensaries to limited locations;
- Prohibiting dispensaries from co-locating with other businesses;
- Requiring medical marijuana be grown, processed and dispensed in enclosed structures;
- Requiring a surety bond for licensing;
- Setting hours of operation;
- Limiting the amount of THC in flower, leaf or concentrate for sale or distribution.
“I have no doubt that the board in good faith sought to regulate marijuana in a manner it believed would best promote the health and safety of Oklahomans,” the letter concludes. “However, in so doing, the board made policy judgments not authorized by statute. Such policy decisions are the exclusive prerogative of the legislature and the people.”
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