Official could be fired Wednesday
The Oklahoma Pharmacy Board's executive director could be fired Wednesday because of bribery allegations.
Chelsea Church came under criminal investigation last week because of her texts July 7 about medical marijuana. On Monday, a special meeting of
the Pharmacy Board was called to consider her continued employment.
The meeting is set to begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
“The State Board of Pharmacy is aware of the situation,” said the board’s president, Kyle Whitehead, who called the meeting.
“We will be cooperating with the proper authorities regarding the allegations against Director Church,” he said. “The Board of Pharmacy takes this matter serious and is committed to the board’s core principle of protecting the citizens of Oklahoma. We will be cooperating with openness and transparency and will update as details become available.”
Board members could vote to suspend, demote or terminate Church or accept her resignation, according to an agenda posted online Monday. Board members also could appoint an interim executive director.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is looking into whether Church offered a bribe — a higher paying job — to a Health Department lawyer on July 7 in an attempt to influence medical marijuana rules.
The Health Department lawyer, Julie Ezell, has since resigned and is now facing a criminal charge. Ezell is accused of sending threatening emails to herself in an attention-getting ploy.
Voters in June approved medical marijuana in Oklahoma and Ezell was involved in writing rules about its use. Church was among those who wanted a rule requiring dispensaries to hire a pharmacist.
In the texts July 7, Ezell joked about quitting at the Health Department and coming to work for the Pharmacy Board.
“PLEASE !!!! ” Church replied.
“You get me a pharmacist in dispensary and then come to our office. I guarantee I can do more than u have now,” Church also texted, adding an emoji that was winking and sticking its tongue out.
In a later text, Church wrote: “If this settles down, I would honestly love to talk to You about OSBP.
“We have statutory authority for an attorney and I think u would b a great fit. U tell me what it would take for u to jump and we need to talk !!!! ”
Ezell’s defense attorney, Ed Blau, has described the texts as a “pretty clear” bribe offer. He said Friday Ezell will cooperate in the bribery investigation.
“We will be happy to assist in any way we can, as it is important for law enforcement and the public to have the full picture of what was happening behind the scenes during those chaotic few days,” Blau said.
Ezell did not include the pharmacist requirement in the proposed rules.
The Board of Health on July 10 adopted the requirement anyway, against her advice. The Board of Health will reconsider that requirement and other rules at the urging of Attorney General Mike Hunter.
Church, 46, took over at the Pharmacy Board a year ago after the previous executive director died. She has worked for the Pharmacy Board since 2012, mostly as a compliance officer.
She has not responded to requests from The Oklahoman for comment.