Senate Bill 1422 creates a group to study industrial hemp and the measure sailed through Oklahoma’s Senate Agriculture Committee on Monday.
Ten lawmakers voted for the bill and there was one abstention.
One of the bill’s authors, state Sen. Roland Pederson (R-Burlington), said people already know industrial hemp is a viable crop for Oklahoma because it was grown throughout the U.S. during the 1940s.
“I think we could produce it as good as anybody in the nation as far as climate and everything goes,” Pederson said.
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Oklahoma legalized hemp in 2019, shortly after the nation made it legal in 2018.
Pederson helped conduct an interim study on the crop last year and he said one of the recommendations of that study included creating a task force to create supply chains, address legislative barriers and look at coordinating state and federal rules.
“One of the main things we need to do, I think, is distinguish between industrial hemp and medical marijuana,” Pederson said.
State lawmakers and agencies would appoint members to the group. Also, there would be appointees from Oklahoma State University College of Agriculture and University Oklahoma College of Architecture.
The task force won’t be looking at the production of hemp flowers for therapeutic reasons like medical marijuana or CBD, “which require separate licenses for approval,” Pederson said.
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– This report was produced by the Oklahoma Public Media Exchange, a collaboration of public media organizations. Help support collaborative journalism by donating at the link at the top of this webpage.
NORMAN, Ok. – The sixth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team defeated the 13th-ranked Oklahoma, 91-72, on Sunday afternoon inside the Lloyd Noble Center.
The Tigers are back in action on Thursday, Jan. 22 to face Texas A&M. The game will tip off at 8:00 p.m. CT inside the Reed Arena in Bryan-College Station, Texas.
With the victory, LSU improves to 17-2 overall, while Oklahoma drops to 14-4 on the season.
After trailing behind by nine at the start of the contest, LSU went on a 20-3 run to snag the lead. The Tigers shot 46.9 percent on 15-of-32 shots and drained four treys. Oklahoma shot 15-of-36 (41.7%) and knocked down five three-pointers. LSU closed the half carrying a 10-point advantage, 45-35.
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In the second half, LSU extended their lead, outscoring the Sooners 46-37. The Tigers shot 38.9 percent from the floor on 14-of-36 shooting, while Oklahoma were 11-of-35 (31.4%). Oklahoma tanked seven three’s. The Tigers outrebounded the Sooners 29-19.
Flau’Jae Johnson earned a double-double to lead the Tigers with 23 points on 9-of-19 shots and three treys to go with 10 rebounds. Jada Richard earned her career high of 21 points on 8-of-10 shots and five rebounds. Other Tigers that scored in double figures were Grace Knox (13), MiLaysia Fulwiley (12) and Mikaylah Williams (10).
Oklahoma was led by Payton Verhulst with 21 points on 7-of-17 shots and five treys.
It was less than a week ago that the Miami Heat faced off in Oklahoma City against this hot Thunder squad. The Heat were without Norman Powell and that one, while Tyler Herro suited up.
Flip that script tonight, as Powell was in and Herro was out. Jaime Jaquez Jr and Davion Mitchell also remained out for Miami.
The Heat’s offense remained linear with the Thunder tonight, as Bam Adebayo stayed hot in the scoring column along with good play from their role guys. In opposite fashion of the Boston game, they came up big in clutch time.
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So let’s get into some takeaways tonight:
1. The Heat’s big second quarter.
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Jan 17, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots the basketball over Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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There’s one common thread between Erik Spoelstra coached Heat teams: undermanned just means more control. Whenever there are less options on that bench, it simplifies things for his rotation, which was seen in the first half tonight. After trailing 37-30 into the second quarter, the Heat found a real rhythm from there. Myron Gardner entered for instant impact, which I’ll discuss shortly, but the defensive pockets of that quarter were huge to bring Miami back. The switching from Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins, limiting second chance points, and just playing with energy. Simone Fontecchio found a shooting rhythm, Adebayo kept attacking, and Norman Powell started getting involved. This team likes to show short flashes, and the second quarter was that tonight.
2. One Heat depth piece always bringing impact.
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Jan 3, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Myron Gardner (15) reacts against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
You know the Heat are down a few guys when Myron Gardner walks to the scorer’s table for Miami. Even though he may not be a loud name for many out there, he always brings instant impact on both ends. Chirping trash talk, gritty defensive plays, and a whole lot of energy. Yet tonight, it was the offense that flashed for him. He knocked down three straight triples upon entering, simply firing with complete confidence on quick trigger jumpers. It’s been tough to find consistent playing time for him, but every time he gets out there it leaves you wanting to see more. This team needs two-way, gritty role guys mixed in, and Gardner has shown to be just that,
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3. Clutch time.
Jan 17, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots the basketball over Miami Heat guard Kasparas Jakucionis (25) during the first quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Heat stayed neck and neck for three and a half quarter straight. With 5 minutes and change to go, Kasparas Jakucionis knocked down a triple to tie things up heading into clutch time. A three ball for OKC gave them some cushion for about a minute of gameplay, before Pelle Larsson’s strong night continued into a forced jump ball and tough and-1 floater out of the pick and roll to tie it back up. Adebayo and Gilgeous-Alexander traded threes with slightly over three minutes to go, before Adebayo’s pull-up two kept things tied up at 116. A bunch of free throw line trips later, the Heat were down 1 with 40 seconds left. Powell-Adebayo pick and roll the call, help was sent on the attack, and Wiggins knocked down a three to go up 2. Heat came up big defensively to close on their way to a win.
Oklahoma inbounded the ball with 4.1 seconds left and went for the win, but Nijel Pack missed a long 3-pointer and the Sooners couldn’t get a shot off after corralling the offensive rebound.
Alabama (13-5, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) won despite making only 15 of 26 free throws.
Xzayvier Brown scored 21 points and Derrion Reid added 16 for Oklahoma (11-7, 1-3). The Sooners, who sought their first win over a ranked team this season, dropped their fourth straight. They were coming off a 96-79 home loss to No. 19 Florida on Tuesday and needed a quality win to boost their NCAA Tournament resume.
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Oklahoma led 21-19 when Alabama’s Amari Allen scored in close and was fouled hard by Kirill Elatontsev. The foul was upgraded to a flagrant 1, and Allen made two free throws to give the Crimson Tide a 23-21 edge.
Oklahoma recovered and led 44-33 at halftime. The Sooners held Alabama to 4-for-19 shooting from 3-point range before the break.
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Alabama opened the second half on a 12-0 run. A fast break layup by Philon capped off the run and gave the Crimson Tide a 45-44 lead. Oklahoma didn’t score for nearly three minutes to start the second half.
Oklahoma trailed 82-79 with 10 seconds left. The Sooners pushed the ball up court, and Brown was fouled while shooting a circus 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds left. He made the first two free throws and missed the third for his first miss in nine tries.
Allen made one of two free throws at the other end to set up the final sequence.
Find more Oklahoma coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
