Why it matters: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has extended the moratorium on new medical cannabis businesses until August 1, 2026, with legislation HB-2095. The bill also empowers the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to enforce regulations on commercial cultivators, processors, researchers, and more.
What they are saying: Oklahoma Attorney General Getner Drummond praised Gov. Stitt for taking action against illegal cannabis activity and said the bill ensures that the attorney general’s office and law enforcement partners have the tools and authority to shut down criminal enterprises.
The big picture: Since the first licenses were issued in August 2018, Oklahoma’s medical cannabis program has rapidly grown, and an estimated 400,000 medical cannabis licenses were issued by January 2022. However, recreational cannabis initiative State Question 820 was rejected by 38% of Oklahoma voters in March. Other legislation has targeted the illegal industry and its common problems.
What to watch: Oklahoma is experiencing a growing medical cannabis industry, but its rapid expansion has led to a crackdown on illegal activities. The state government’s actions can set a precedent for how regulators confront illegal cannabis operations and their effects on public safety. Oklahoma’s actions may also influence other states on how to develop legal cannabis programs while preventing illegal activities.
Take: Although Oklahoma has a growing medical cannabis industry, legislators and policymakers believe that it has gotten “way out of control.” The extension of the moratorium on new medical cannabis businesses, along with other legislation targeting the illegal industry, aims to address these issues in the industry while still allowing patients to use medical cannabis if it benefits them. However, this approach may not be welcomed by everyone, particularly those in the industry that see this as an obstacle to their growth.
