Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Industry Weighs In On Proposed Regulatory Changes

Much of the comment surrounded a proposed expansion of the controlled pesticide list and a change in the limits of the threshold for pesticide residue.

By Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice

Oklahoma’s medical marijuana regulatory agency heard public feedback Tuesday on proposed rules that would implement legislation passed by the Legislature this year.

Dozens of medical marijuana business owners and industry offered public comment and criticisms of the proposed rules. While many said they understood that the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) is required by the Legislature to make the rule changes, they still expressed frustration with having to keep up with what they called “excessive” changes.

The proposed permanent rules are related to four bills signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) this year, including House Bill 3361 and Senate Bills 758, 1635 and 1939.

Much of the comment surrounded a proposed expansion of the controlled pesticide list and a change in the limits of the threshold for pesticide residue that can be found in product samples.

Representatives from various Oklahoma testing laboratories said these proposed limits are unreasonable to maintain and are so low that testing becomes “pass or fail.”

Some suggested that OMMA create an “approved pesticide list” rather than adding more restrictions to them each year.

Jeffery Havard, owner of Havard Industries, a testing laboratory, said human error should be accounted for when making rules about the allowable thresholds of pesticide residue in products.

When it comes to the state-run laboratory that’s slated to open in February, he said he hopes it will be the “hammer” that will hold “bad actors” accountable, but that without transparent operations there will be a lack of trust from the industry.

Growers and processors also offered criticism on a proposed rule requiring pre-packaging of medical marijuana products. They said it would create difficulties for growers who often do not have operations equipped for packaging.

Other parts of the proposed rules require fingerprinting to be included in background checks for medical marijuana employees, make changes to the required documents needed for license renewals and adjust provisions for transfers of commercial licenses and license renewals.

OMMA was also pressed to be a better advocate for business owners when at the Capitol. Doing so could help prevent some of these “bad changes” from happening.

Adria Berry, executive director of OMMA, said that anyone who submitted a public comment, whether in person or online, will receive a written response from the agency.

Public comment is part of the process for any agency to impose new rules. After receiving feedback from the public, OMMA will decide if changes will be made to the proposed rules. The rules are then submitted to the Legislature for consideration by February 1, according to a spokesperson from OMMA.

This story was first published by Oklahoma Voice.

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.