Req. No. 9906 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 9906 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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. Req. No. 9906 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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; Req. No. 9906 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 9906 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 9906 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 9906 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 9906 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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