Oklahoma health board removes controversial medical cannabis requirements

The Oklahoma State Board of Health took another attempt at crafting rules for medical marijuana to conform with SQ 788. The state question, which legalizes medical marijuana in Oklahoma, passed with over a half-million votes on June 26.

The Oklahoma State Board of Health acted quickly after the election to put rules in place, but amended the rules that had been developed by Department of Health staff. The amendments included two controversial rules, one which banned the sale of smokable marijuana, and another which required all marijuana dispensaries to have a licensed pharmacist on duty at least 40 hours a week.

The board’s action had been widely criticized by cannabis advocates and notably by state Attorney General Mike Hunter, who advised the board to revisit the issue and outlined the areas in which he believed the board overstepped it bounds. (See Oklahoma Governor, Attorney General urge board to rescind last-minute medical pot rules.)

The board met on Wednesday, August 1 to consider revisions to the rules and to comply with the Attorney General’s recommendations.

The board passed several changes to the controversial rules earlier approved.

The revision:

• Removes the restrictions on smokable medical marijuana and medical marijuana products
• Removes the requirement for a dispensary to have a licensed pharmacist on site
• Removes limitations on THC content
• Removes limitations on hours of operation
• Removes the prohibition on dispensaries co-locating with other business entities

A full list of the changes in the rules can be viewed here.

The AG had outlined the criteria contained in SQ 788, which he said were:

• Be age 25 or older
• Be a resident of Oklahoma
• Show that members, managers, and board members are resident of Oklahoma
• Have no more than 25 percent non-Oklahoma ownership (for entities)
• Be registered to conduct business in Oklahoma
• Disclose all ownership, and
• Not have a felony within the last 2 year, not have a violent felony in the last 5 years, and not be currently incarcerated.

The State Board of Health voted in favor of adopting the revised set of rules.

Copyright The Gayly – August 2, 2018 @ 11:10 a.m. CDT.