Lawmakers work on framework for pot law

Oklahomans will decide in three weeks whether to allow medical marijuana, but lawmakers have been working for months behind the scenes to prepare.

If State Question 788 passes during the statewide primary election, the Legislature will likely convene quickly to adopt regulations on the new industry. GOP leaders say the laws won’t be an attempt to reverse medical marijuana, but rather to supplement the peoples’ vote with a more stable regulatory framework.

“My anticipation would be, if there’s a special session, that language would have already been worked out between us and the Senate and the governor, and it would be agreedupon language that helps effectuate the will of the people,” said House Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City.

Indeed, even supporters of the ballot initiative anticipated

working with the government on improvements before it can be passed into law.

If adopted, State Question 788 would allow people to buy medical cannabis if they have a recommendation from their doctor. There also would be a basic framework to allow retailers, distributors and growers to open businesses.

There was a proposed bill to create an independent Cannabis Commission during the most recent legislative session, but it never got far enough to be signed into law. The commission would have been the regulatory body in charge of medical marijuana licensing.

Echols said there is already legislation being drafted that lawmakers can introduce when and if a special session is called. He declined to elaborate on the details pending continuing negotiations.

“Everything is part of a global package, so I don’t think it’s fair at this stage to take any one point standing alone and say this is part of the deal,” he said. “I’ve seen three separate versions of bills that would all be considered compromise bills.

“Everybody wants reasonable regulation, but what they want is safe access. If there was an overarching principle, if it were to pass, I think everybody’s unifying goal is safe access.”

Whatever the Legislature decides to do, it will have to be quick. The state question mandates that the system will start to kick in a month after the vote with people being able to submit applications to grow and use medical marijuana.

“That’s a short time frame we’re dealing with, so that’s why you have groups meeting with both the House and the Senate,” Echols said.

They aren’t official groups in the traditional sense of legislative task forces. They aren’t appointed, but include people with knowledge or an interest in any new laws.

There is also a working group at the Oklahoma Department of Health, which would initially be responsible for implementing State Question 788 if it passes June 26.

“I would imagine as it starts to take shape, that’s when there’s going to have to be a lot more collaboration between the House and the Senate, and the majority caucus and minority caucus,” said Echols.