Why it matters: House Bill 3125 seeks to ban foreign ownership of land in Oklahoma to combat illegal cannabis cultivation, which has been escalating since the pandemic started.
What they are saying: Rep. Danny Williams, the sponsor of HB-3125, believes that foreign ownership is linked to illegal activity and profit. Mark Woodward from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control mentioned that many arrested individuals involved in illegal cannabis cultivation were of Chinese nationality.
The big picture: Foreign land ownership in Oklahoma has been a growing concern, with Gov. Kevin Stitt highlighting the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party purchasing large amounts of land in the state. The Oklahoma Farm Bureau is working on finding a solution to the issue.
What to watch: In addition to HB-3125, two other bills were introduced in the Oklahoma legislature related to water usage and cannabis cultivation. Senate Bill 1341 aims to add metering requirements for water use, while Senate Bill 1352 would require cannabis cultivators to pay for water usage.
My take: The issue of illegal cannabis cultivation and foreign land ownership in Oklahoma is a complex one that requires careful consideration. While measures like HB-3125 can potentially address the problem, it’s important to ensure that legislation does not negatively impact law-abiding businesses. Monitoring the implementation of these bills and their impact on the state’s agriculture sector will be crucial.
