New Health Solutions Oklahoma (NHSO), the trade association representing the state’s medical cannabis industry, is circulating comprehensive model legislation outlining a regulatory infrastructure for Oklahoma’s fledgling medical cannabis program. The
New Health Solutions Oklahoma (NHSO), the trade association representing the state’s medical cannabis industry, is circulating comprehensive model legislation outlining a regulatory infrastructure for Oklahoma’s fledgling medical cannabis program. The model bill, available for download on newhealthoklahoma.com, proposes rules and regulations that would support successful implementation of State Question 788. The proposal is an evolving document, and NHSO encourages Oklahomans with an interest in medical cannabis to review the model legislation and submit comments or proposed input on a form also available at› newhealthoklahoma.com.›
NHSO Executive Director Bud Scott said his intent is to be a resource for lawmakers looking to carry out the will of the people, who overwhelmingly voted to support State Question
788. Scott said the medical cannabis industry believes in timely and responsible implementation and wants to address the legitimate concerns raised by the business community and others.
“Our goal is to reconcile the language of SQ 788, functional statutory language from around the country, legislative initiatives from the spring, the good faith portions of regulations recently approved by the State Board of Health and Governor Fallin, concerns of activist and interest groups alike as well as public commentary into a functional document,” said Scott. “We believe we have done that.”
Scott said some lawmakers are still opposing a special legislative session, which would be needed to responsibly implement SQ 788, on the grounds that passing comprehensive legislation is not possible on a short timeline.
“The message we got from some lawmakers was that putting together a comprehensive bill would take months,” said Scott. “We did it in days, and we did it with input from leaders in both parties, the medical cannabis industry, and even some opponents of medical cannabis. This is a responsible proposal that is ready to be implemented if our lawmakers will do the right thing and work to carry out the will of the voters.”
