Oklahoma To Pause Issuing Marijuana Business Licenses For Two Years

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority plans to pause the issuance of economic licenses for 2 years in accordance with a brand new state legislation.  

State lawmakers handed HB 3208 final legislative session, which imposes the moratorium on licenses for growers, processors, and dispensaries.  

The pause “permits OMMA an opportunity to meet up with all the brand new guidelines which can be popping out,” Sen. Lonnie Paxton, a co-sponsor of the invoice, mentioned on the Senate flooring in Might.  

Enterprise license functions won’t be accepted after 11:59 p.m. on August 1. The moratorium will expire on August 1, 2024, or when OMMA Director Adria Berry chooses to raise it.  

“This doesn’t have an effect on license transfers, this doesn’t have an effect on license renewals and it doesn’t have an effect on affected person licenses,” Berry mentioned in an social media video.  

Lawmakers thought of quite a few modifications to state marijuana legal guidelines within the final session, many geared toward strengthening legislation enforcement or elevating the barrier to entry for companies.  

For extra on laws associated to medical marijuana, click on right here. 

Within the years following the legalization of medical marijuana in 2018, Oklahoma turned recognized to some legislation enforcement officers as a significant producer of unlawful weed.  

 Wild West Of Weed: Oklahoma Struggles To Regulate Booming Medical Marijuana Trade 

The variety of licensed marijuana growers in Oklahoma in July was 7,348, a 23% increase from 2020.