Governor Fallin is calling on the Oklahoma Board of Health to follow the suggestion of Attorney General Mike Hunter to call a special meeting to rescind two last minute regulations added to the newly adopted medical marijuana regulations. She signed the rules shortly after the Board adopted them.
The Tulsa World’s Samantha Vicent writes Interim Health Commissioner Tom Bates requested the advice from Hunter earlier this week. The Board is now signaling it will call a special meeting as soon as possible.
You can read the Tulsa World story here.
At the same time, the Oklahoma Senate Democratic Caucus is calling for a special session to address the issue.
“The Senate Democratic Caucus urges Governor Fallin to call the legislature into special session to address issues related to medical marijuana. Today’s letter from Attorney General Mike Hunter to Health Department Interim Director Tom Bates clearly concludes that the Board of Health approved medical marijuana rules that exceed its statutory authority,” said Senate Minority Leader John Sparks in a statement on Wednesday.
“The leadership of the Oklahoma Legislature will soon be convening a bipartisan working group to make recommendations regarding medical marijuana regulations. The legislature should convene in special session without delay to consider the working group’s recommendations. As elected legislators, it is our constitutional duty to carry out the will of the people,” concluded Sparks.
House Minority Leader Steve Kouplen also calls for a special session in his statement about the rules.
“I do agree with the attorney general’s assessment. The House Democratic Caucus has taken a stronger stance against the board’s decision than any elected official in the state. Unlike our counterparts, we feel that a special session is necessary to provide a permanent structure for medical marijuana. Contrary to the governor’s original statement after signing the rules, we believe it will be easier to protect the will of the people and put in place effective oversight during a special session when legislators don’t have to worry about the budget.
“However, if the attorney general believes the board’s actions are not authorized by the law, why did he let the governor sign them in the first place? One of the attorney general’s main jobs is to advise the executive branch on legal issues. Considering the lawyer for the health department at the time literally told the board that the rules would most likely be challenged in court, why didn’t the attorney general advise the governor before she signed them into law?
“After the health department voted the first time, many of my Republican colleagues pointed to the unelected board, due to their lack of accountability, as the problem. Well, you can’t have it both ways. If they really believe this, they should take this issue out of the board’s hands and call a special session so that the decisions made during that special session can be held accountable by the people in November,” said Kouplen.
You can read Hunter’s letter to Bates concerning the medical marijuana regulations below.
Is anyone in Oklahoma surprised that Oklahoma politicians will foul up any law passed by the voters. It goes against everything that the GOP stands for , which is total control of the government in spite of what the people want. They are looking for a way to make a buck out of this. So just shut you sheep and pay your taxes.