,"The Oklahoma Farm Bureau, which opposes recreational marijuana, ... and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, his bill proposes."
Oklahoma Lawmakers Consider recreational Marijuana Bill
Oklahoma legislators are debating a recreational marijuana bill that could make it legal for adults to possess and grow marijuana for personal use. The bill, titled State Question 820, was introduced in the state legislature this year and is currently under consideration. If passed, the measure would allow adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis, grow up to six mature plants and six seedings, and create a taxed and regulated system of cannabis production and distribution.
The bill is being discussed in the wake of Oklahoma voters' rejection of State Question 788 in 2018, which would have legal recreational marijuana for adults in the Sooner state. This time, lawmakers are taking extra measures to ensure that recreational marijuana is properly regulated and that the state has the necessary resources in place to monitor the industry. The measure would also require that the Department of Tourism and Recreation and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority be consulted on any proposed regulations.
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau, which opposes recreational marijuana, has argued that the bill would lead to greater youth access to marijuana, an increase in drug abuse, and a decrease in productivity. In response, the bill's sponsor, Representative Jason Murphey, has proposed amendments to give the governor greater control over state licensing and enforcement. The bill also establishes a system of taxation and regulation, which the Farm Bureau argues will lead to higher prices and less access to marijuana.
In addition to the recreational marijuana bill, lawmakers are also considering a bill to repeal the THC potency cap on recreational marijuana products. This bill, introduced by New York's Assembly Majority Leader, would allow more potent marijuana products to be sold in the state. The Farm Bureau has opposed this measure as well, arguing that it would lead to an increase in marijuana-related health issues.
The debate over recreational marijuana has been ongoing for years in Oklahoma. In 2016, a state-wide ballot measure to legal recreational marijuana failed to pass. Voters approved medical marijuana in 2018, and will vote on recreational legal this month. Surber said he had recently seen polls that showed a majority of Oklahomans support recreational marijuana.
If Oklahoma passes the bill, it would be the 22nd state to legal recreational pot. However, some critics are concerned that the bill is too restrictive and that it overlooks the potential benefits of legal recreational marijuana. As lawmakers consider this bill, the governor's authority over state licensing and enforcement remains a major point of contention.
