House Minority Leader Rep. Steve Kouplen is calling for a limited special session so lawmakers can approve a bill to establish testing and labeling standards for the medical marijuana industry.
“As Democrats, our caucus entered into this group stating that we expected action, not participation in a political maneuver to simply ease the outrage over the failure to implement the will of the people and the failed leadership on this issue by Governor Fallin,” said Kouplen.
The bipartisan Legislative Medical Marijuana Work Group has been gathering testimony from several stakeholders about the implementation of cannabis regulations as the program begins to roll out. The last two weeks, the group has focused on testing and labeling standards.
“We have heard from OSDH Commissioner Tom Bates, who said the Department of Health does not have the legal authority to require testing without legislative action. The Oklahoma Attorney General, Mike Hunter confirmed that this authority is not granted to OSDH and has rejected regulations that overstepped their statutory authority. Yesterday, we heard from an outside testing consultant that his personal opinion is that rapid advancement of testing capabilities is “extraordinarily important to protecting the interest of public health for the citizens of Oklahoma. I would do it as quickly as possible,” said Kouplen as he calls for the special session.
However, the work group’s co-chair, Senator Greg McCortney believes a special session is not warranted, because it appears the Health Department does have the authority to promulgate rules on testing and labels.
“The Minority leader is wrong. At a meeting just two weeks ago, representatives from the Health Department agreed with my co-chair that the Health Department could right now work alongside our legislative working group to develop and implement testing regulations. And now that we have heard from national experts on testing, we intend to work with the Health Department on a proposal for testing regulations and present it soon. My co-chair and I informed the House minority leader of that goal after yesterday’s meeting. He still felt necessary to try and score political points by issuing a press release. That is not leadership. It’s political pandering. Oklahomans deserve and expect better. This legislative working group is making good progress. We’re doing in a few months what every other state has taken years to do. It’s most important to do this right rather than simply do it right now. We’re being deliberate and thorough in our work to ensure Oklahoma’s medical marijuana system is effective and successful in providing patients access to safe medication,” said McCortney.
You can watch the previous two Medical Marijuana Work Group meetings by following the links below.
Medical Marijuana Working Group Focuses on Testing, Standards (September 5, 2018 Meeting)
Medical Marijuana Working Group Focuses on Testing, Standards
Medical Marijuana Work Group Continues to Study Testing (September 12, 2018 Meeting)
