Oklahoma 2022 2022 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB4411 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/21/2022

                     
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022) 
 
HOUSE BILL 4411 	By: Lowe (Dick) 
 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
An Act relating to medical marijuana; amending 63 
O.S. 2021, Section 427.6, whi ch relates to the 
Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection 
Act; deleting limitation that restricts the number of 
post-licensure inspections conducted in a calendar 
year; and providing an effective date . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.    AMENDATORY     63 O.S. 2021, Section 427.6 , is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 427.6 A.  The State Department of Hea lth shall address 
issues related to the medical m arijuana program in Oklahoma 
including, but not limited to, monitoring and discipli nary actions 
as they relate to the medica l marijuana program. 
B.  1.  The Department or its designee may perform on -site 
inspections or investigations of a licensee or appli cant for any 
medical marijuana business license, research facility, education 
facility or waste disposal facility to determine compliance with 
applicable laws, rules and regulations or submissions made pur suant   
 
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to this section.  The Department may enter t he licensed premises of 
a medical marijuana business, research facility, education f acility 
or waste disposal facility licensee or applicant to assess or 
monitor compliance or ensure qualifications for lice nsure. 
2.  Post-licensure There shall be no limit to the number of 
post-licensure inspections shall be limited to twice per that may be 
conducted in a calendar year.  However, investigations 
Investigations and additional inspections may occur when the 
Department believes an investigation or additional inspection is 
necessary due to a possible violation of applicable laws, rules or 
regulations.  The State Commissioner of Health may adopt rules 
imposing penalties including, but not limited to, monetary fines and 
suspension or revocation of licensure for failure to allow the 
Authority reasonable ac cess to the licensed premise s for purposes of 
conducting an inspection. 
3.  The Department may review relevant records of a licensed 
medical marijuana business, licensed medi cal marijuana research 
facility, licensed medical marijuana education facility or licensed 
medical marijuana waste disposal fa cility, and may require and 
conduct interviews with such persons or entities and persons 
affiliated with such entities, for the purpose of determining 
compliance with Department requirements and applicable laws , rules 
and regulations.   
 
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4.  The Department may refer complaints alleging criminal 
activity that are made against a licensee to appropriate Oklahoma 
state or local law enforcement auth orities. 
C.  Disciplinary action may be taken against an applicant or 
licensee for not adhering to applicable laws pursuant to the terms, 
conditions and guidelines set forth i n the Oklahoma Medical 
Marijuana and Patient Protection Act . 
D.  Disciplinary actions may include revocation, suspension or 
denial of an application, licen se or final authorization and other 
action deemed appropriate by the Department. 
E.  Disciplinary actions may be imposed upon a medical marijuana 
business licensee for: 
1.  Failure to comply with or satisfy any provision o f 
applicable laws, rules or regula tions; 
2.  Falsification or misrepresentatio n of any material or 
information submitted to the Department or other licensees; 
3.  Failing to allow or impedin g entry by authorized 
representatives of the Department; 
4.  Failure to adhere to any acknowledgem ent, verification or 
other representation made to the Department; 
5.  Failure to submit or disclose information required b y 
applicable laws, rules or regulations or otherwise requested by the 
Department;   
 
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6.  Failure to correct any violation of this secti on cited as a 
result of a review or audit of fin ancial records or other materials; 
7.  Failure to comply with requested access by the Department to 
the licensed premises or materials; 
8. Failure to pay a required monetary penalty; 
9.  Diversion of medical marijuana or any medical marijuana 
product, as determined by the Department; 
10.  Threatening or harming a medical marijuana patient 
licensee, caregiver licensee , a medical practitioner or an employee 
of the Department; and 
11.  Any other basis indic ating a violation of the applicable 
laws and regulations as identified by the Department. 
F.  Disciplinary actions against a licensee may include the 
imposition of monetary penalties, which m ay be assessed by the 
Department.  The Department may suspend or revoke a license for 
failure to pay any monetary pena lty lawfully assessed by the 
Department against a licensee. 
G.  Penalties for sales or purchases by a medical marijuana 
business to persons other than those allowed by law occurring within 
any two-year time period may include an initial fine of One Thousan d 
Dollars ($1,000.00) for a first violation and a fine of Five 
Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for any subsequent violation .  
Penalties for grossly inaccurate or fraudulent reporting occurring 
within any two-year time period may include an initial fine of Fiv e   
 
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Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for a first violation and a fine of Ten 
Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) for any subsequent violation . The 
medical marijuana business may be subject to a revocation of any 
license granted pursuant to the Oklahoma Medical Mariju ana and 
Patient Protection Act upon a showing that the violation was willful 
or grossly negligent. 
H.  1.  First offense for intentional a nd impermissible 
diversion of medical marijuana, medical marijuana concentrate, or 
products by a patient or caregiver to an unauthorized person shall 
not be punished under a criminal statute but may be subject to a 
fine of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00). 
2.  The second offense for impermissible diversion of medical 
marijuana, medical marijuana concentrate, or products by a patient 
or caregiver to an unauthorized person sh all not be punished under a 
criminal statute but may be subject to a fine of not to exceed Five 
Hundred Dollars ($500.00) an d may result in revocation of the 
license upon a showing that the violation was willful or grossly 
negligent. 
I.  The intentional diversion of medical marijuana, medical 
marijuana concentrate or medical marijuana products by a licensed 
medical marijuana patient or caregiver, medical marijuana bu siness 
or employee of a medical marijuana business to an unauthorized minor 
person who the licensed medical marijuana patient or caregiver, 
medical marijuana business or employee of a medical marijuana   
 
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business knew or reasonably should have known to be a minor person 
shall be subject to a cite and release citation and, upon a finding 
of guilt or a plea of no contest, a fine of Two Thousand Five 
Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) .  For a second or subsequent offense, 
the licensed medical marijuana patient or caregiver, medical 
marijuana business or employee of a medical marijuana business shall 
be subject to a cite and release citation and, upon a finding of 
guilt or a plea of no contest, a fine of Five Thousand Dollars 
($5,000.00) and automatic termination of the medical marijuana 
license. 
J.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the 
criminal prosecution, after the presentation of evidence and a 
finding beyond a reasonable doubt, of a licensed medical marijuana 
patient or caregiver, medical marijua na business or employee of a 
medical marijuana business who has diverted medical marijuana, 
medical marijuana concentrate or medical marijuana products to an 
unauthorized person with the intent or knowledge that the 
unauthorized person was to engage in the distribution or trafficking 
of medical marijuana, medical marijuana concentrate or medical 
marijuana products. 
K.  In addition to any other remedies provided for by law, the 
Department, pursuant to its rules and reg ulations, may issue a 
written order to any licensee the Department has reason to believe 
has violated Sections 420 through 426.1 of this title, the Oklahoma   
 
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Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act, the Oklahoma Medical 
Marijuana Waste Management Act, or any rules promulgated by the 
State Commissioner of Health and to whom the Department has served, 
not less than thirty (30) days p reviously, a written notice of 
violation of such statutes or rules. 
1.  The written order shall state with specificity the n ature of 
the violation.  The Department may impose any disciplinary action 
authorized under the provisions of this section including , but not 
limited to, the assessment of monetary penalties. 
2.  Any order issued pursuant to the provisions of this section 
shall become a final order unless, not m ore than thirty (30) days 
after the order is served to the licensee, the licensee requests a n 
administrative hearing in accordance with the rules and regulations 
of the Department.  Upon such request, the Department shall promptly 
initiate administrative p roceedings. 
L.  Whenever the Department finds that an emergency exists 
requiring immediate a ction in order to protect the health or welfare 
of the public, the Department may issue an order, without providing 
notice or hearing, stating the existence of said emergency and 
requiring that action be taken as the Department deems necessary to 
meet the emergency.  Such action may include, but is not limited to, 
ordering the licensee to immediately cease and desist operations by 
the licensee.  The order shall be ef fective immediately upon 
issuance. Any person to whom the order is directed shall comply   
 
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immediately with the provisions of the order .  The Department may 
assess a penalty not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000 .00) per 
day of noncompliance with the o rder.  In assessing such a penalty, 
the Department shall consider the seriousness of the vio lation and 
any efforts to comply with applicable requirements .  Upon 
application to the Department, the licensee shall be of fered a 
hearing within ten (10) days of the issuance of the order. 
M. All hearings held pursuant to this section shall be in 
accordance with the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act. 
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2022. 
 
58-2-9906 GRS 12/21/21