The Oklahoma House of Representatives sent HB 3228, also known as the Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act, to Governor Kevin Stitt this past week.
The bill modifies various provisions of Oklahoma state law relating to medical marijuana use, distribution, and sales. The measure will remove language that specifies that a person without a medical marijuana license
must have a medical condition as it relates to the prohibition on imprisoning persons convicted of holding up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana. The measure extends the temporary license period from the current 30 days to 90 days. Along with this extension on temporary licenses, it will allow residents of other states who do not possess a medical
marijuana license to apply for the temporary license.
The bill establishes late renewal fees for the patient, business, research, waste disposal, and education licenses that are nonrefundable. The Oklahoma State Department of Health will determine the amount for late fees. Licenses that have been expired for 90 or more days may not be renewed. Patients are authorized by the measure to request the Department to withdraw his or her caregiver’s license. Commercial growers are also authorized to transfer medical marijuana to a processor for remediation purposes.
Licensed medical marijuana dispensaries will be authorized to package and sell to licensed medical marijuana patients and caregivers pre-rolled medical marijuana containing only ground parts of the plant. As well, growers may also sell pre-rolled medical cannabis to dispensaries. Deliveries of medical marijuana products directly to the private residences of patients and caregivers are authorized by the measure. Patients and caregivers must provide certain information to the dispensary as outlined in the measure.
HB 3228 clarifies how the distance between a dispensary and school shall be measured. The distance shall be measured from the nearest property line of the public or private school to the front entrance of the dispensary. An athletic facility, ballpark, field or stadium owned, used or operated by a public or private school shall not constitute a school.
All that is left is for the governor to sign the bill into law which will go into effect in November 2020. Be sure to register for our email updates, so that you are not depending on a social media algorithm to get your news.
