Medical marijuana working group approves testing recommendations

The Oklahoma Senate and Oklahoma House working group on medical marijuana implementation on Wednesday unanimously approved priorities for medical marijuana testing in a vote that will help ensure Oklahomans have access to safe and effective medicine, the group’s co-chair said.

Senator Greg McCortney said the priorities were the first in a series of steps to fully implement a medical marijuana system ‘according to the will of voters who approved State Question 788.’

“From Day One, our objective has been to collect information and seek input from stakeholders from all across the industry so that the state can develop and implement a safe and effective medical marijuana industry,” said McCortney, R-Ada.

“Testing has been a high priority and the recommendations the working group made today, will help ensure that Oklahomans have access to safe medicine. This is the first of many steps the state must take to fully implement a successful, effective and safe medical marijuana industry."

McCortney said work will continue as they sort through a variety of issues like banking and taxation, employment law, and licensing issues.

The working group approved by a 8-0 vote a set of testing priorities. The recommendations will be sent to the Oklahoma State Department of Health for consideration by the Board of Health, which may issue rules based on the working group’s recommendations. 

Pro Tem-designate Greg Treat said, “This group was sent on a fact-finding mission to collect information that would help lawmakers and policy makers succeed in setting up a medical marijuana system as the voters intended.”

(click here to view the Twelfth Medial Marijuana Working Group meeting agenda and additional documents)

The Gayly 10/10/2018 @ 4:40 p.m. CST.