Bill introduced to give city governments control of medical marijuana in Oklahoma
This would let cities decide where marijuana businesses can open and operate.
OKLAHOMA - A state lawmaker has introduced a bill to give city governments some control of medical marijuana through zoning.
This would let cities decide where marijuana businesses can open and operate. If it’s passed, distance requirements are built into this too.
"When 788 passed, there was some language in there that kind of took away any kind of control that cities and municipalities would have with locations of dispensaries and grow operations," said Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City.
The passage of SQ 788 allowed medical marijuana in Oklahoma and those businesses didn’t face many restrictions on where they could open up. This bill would change that.
"Cities, if they chose to, could start zoning the marijuana industry," Coleman said.
SB 801 would give cities and municipalities the power to restrict medical marijuana businesses, such as dispensaries and grow operations to certain areas of city limits.
"There was a grow operation that I noticed in one of the towns in my district that had a very strong odor, and I realized they could not do anything about it," Coleman said.
He said he recognizes the revenue dispensaries can bring in so the bill does not outlaw them completely.
"I think dispensaries are actually a pro, I think they do generate revenue, and tax revenue for the state," Coleman said.
This would not impact existing dispensaries or grows, which can stay where they are as long as they have a valid license with OMMA. If it’s passed, the bill would also require medical marijuana to be 1,000 feet away from schools.
"It’s the grow operations that are causing the problems from the bad actors that have come from the outside of the country," Coleman said.
The senator said this bill was in the works before the vote on SQ 820 earlier this month. If it becomes law, it’ll take effect on Nov. 1.
