Oklahoma 2022 2022 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB1704 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/20/2022

                     
 
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022) 
 
SENATE BILL 1704 	By: Paxton 
 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
An Act relating to medical marijuana; amendin g 63 
O.S. 2021, Section 427. 6, as last amended by Section 
11, Chapter 553, O.S.L . 2021, which relates to 
monitoring and disciplinary actions for license 
holders; expanding scope of penalties; decreasing 
period for assessment of penalties; increasing fine 
amount; removing penalties for inaccurate or 
fraudulent reporting; authorizing the revocatio n of 
license upon a second violation by the business, or 
any employee or agent thereof; and providing an 
effective date. 
 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     63 O.S. 2021, Sectio n 427.6, as 
last amended by Section 11, Chapter 553, O.S.L . 2021, 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, mon itoring and disciplinary 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   
 
 
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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 
to this section.  The Department may enter t he licensed premises of 
a medical marijuana business , research facility, education facility 
or waste disposal facility licensee or applicant to assess or 
monitor compliance or ensure qualifications for lice nsure. 
2.  Post-licensure inspections shall be limited to twice per 
calendar year.  However, investigations and additional inspections 
may occur when the Departmen t believes an investigation or 
additional inspection is ne cessary due to a possible violation of 
applicable laws, rules or regulations .  The State Commissioner of 
Health may adopt rules imposing penalties in cluding, but not limited 
to, monetary fines and suspension o r revocation of licensure for 
failure to allow the Authority reasonable access to the licensed 
premises for purposes of conducting a n inspection. 
3.  The Department may review relevant records of a licensed 
medical marijuana business, licensed medi cal marijuana research 
facility, licensed medical marij uana education facility or licensed 
medical marijuana waste disposal facility , and may require and 
conduct interviews with such persons or entities a nd persons 
affiliated with such entities, for the purpose of determining 
compliance with Department require ments 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 a gainst 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, license or final authorization and other 
action deemed appropri ate by the Department. 
E.  Disciplinary actions may be imposed u pon a medical marijuana 
business licensee for: 
1.  Failure to comply with or satisfy any provision o f 
applicable laws, rules or regulat ions; 
2.  Falsification or misrepresentation of any mater ial 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 Depart ment; 
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 financial 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 indicating a violation of the applicable 
laws and regulations as identif ied by the Department. 
F.  Disciplinary actions against a licens ee 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 penalty lawfully a ssessed by the 
Department against a licensee. 
G.  Penalties for sales or, purchases or transfers of medical 
marijuana by a medical marijuana business or employees or agents of 
the medical marijuana business to persons other than those allowed 
by law occurring within any two-year one-year time period may 
include an initial fine of One Five Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) 
($5,000.00) for a first violation and a fine of Five Fifteen 
Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) ($15,000.00) for any subsequent   
 
 
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violation.  Penalties for grossly inaccurate or fraudulent reporting 
occurring within any two-year time period may include an initial 
fine of Five Thousand Dol lars ($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 shall be subject to a 
revocation of any license granted pursuant t o the Oklahoma Medical 
Marijuana and Patien t Protection Act upon a showing that the 
violation was willful or grossly negligent second violation of the 
business or any employee or agent thereof . 
H.  1.  First offense for intentional and impermissible 
diversion of 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, 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 Dolla rs 
($500.00) and 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 business 
or employee of a medical marijuan a business to an unauthorized minor   
 
 
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person who the licensed medical marijuana patient or caregiver, 
medical marijuana business or employee of a medical marijuana 
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 o ffense, 
the licensed medical marijuana patient or caregiver, medical 
marijuana business or empl oyee 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 Thousan d 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 marijuana business or empl oyee 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 know ledge that the 
unauthorized person was to engage in the distribution or tr afficking 
of medical marijuana, medical marijuana concentrate or medical 
marijuana products. 
K.  In addition to any other remedies p rovided for by law, the 
Department, pursuant to its rules and regulations, may issue a   
 
 
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written order to any licensee the De partment has reason to believe 
has violated Sections 420 through 426.1 of this title, the Oklahoma 
Medical Marijuana and Patient Prot ection Act, the Oklahoma Medical 
Marijuana Waste Management Act, or any rules promulgated by the 
State Commissioner of Heal th and to whom the Dep artment has served, 
not less than thirty (30) days p reviously, a written notice of 
violation of such statutes o r rules. 
1.  The written order shall state with sp ecificity the nature 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 o f this section 
shall become a final order unless, not more 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 r egulations 
of the Department.  Upon such request, the Department shall promptly 
initiate administrative proceedings. 
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 pro viding 
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 de sist operations by   
 
 
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the licensee.  The order shall be effective immedia tely upon 
issuance.  Any person to whom the order is directed shall comply 
immediately with the provisions of the order .  The Department may 
assess a penalty not to exceed Ten Thousand D ollars ($10,000.00) per 
day of noncompliance with the order .  In assessing such a penalty, 
the Department shall consider the seriousness of the vio lation and 
any efforts to comply with applicable requiremen ts.  Upon 
application to the Department, the licen see shall be offered 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 be come effective November 1, 2022. 
 
58-2-2959 MR 1/20/2022 5:45:33 PM