Req. No. 177 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 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 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) SENATE BILL 117 By: Bergstrom AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to medical marijuana, amending 63 O.S. 2021, Sections 422 , as last amended by Section 2, Chapter 332, O.S.L. 2022, and 423, as amended by Section 3, Chapter 332, O.S.L. 2022 (63 O.S. Supp. 2022, Sections 422 and 423), which relate to medical marijuana commercial grower and processin g licenses; requiring applicant to furni sh certain documents before operating; requiring li censee or applicant to acquire a permit or official permission to register with Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority ; authorizing Authority to revoke license if not in compliance; updating statutory language; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 422, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter 332, O.S .L. 2022 (63 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 422), is amended to read as follows: Section 422. A. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority shall make available on its website in an easy-to-find location an application for a medical marijuana commercial grower license. The application fee shall be paid by the applicant in the amounts provided for in Section 427.14 of this title. A method of payment Req. No. 177 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 for the application fee shall be provided on the we bsite of the Authority. The Authority shall have ninety (90) days to review the application; approve, reject or deny the application; and mail the approval, rejection or denial letter stating the reasons for the rejection or denial to the applicant. B. The Authority shall approve all applications which meet the following criteria: 1. The applicant must be twenty-five (25) years of age or older; 2. The applicant, if applying as an individual, must show residency in the State of Oklahoma; 3. All applying entities must show that all members, managers, and board members are Oklahoma resi dents; 4. An applying entity may show owner ship of non-Oklahoma residents, but that percentage ownership may not exceed twenty-five percent (25%); 5. All applying individuals or entities must be registered to conduct business in the State of Oklahoma; and 6. All applicants must disclose all owner ship interests in the commercial grower operation; and 7. The applicant shal l furnish documents evidencing compliance with the provisions of subsection F of this section. Applicants with a nonviolent felony conviction in the last two (2) years, any other felony conviction in the last five (5) years, Req. No. 177 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 inmates in the custody of the D epartment of Corrections or any person currently incarcerated shall not qualify for a commercial grower license. C. A licensed medical marijuana commercial grower may sell marijuana to a licensed medical marijuana dispensary or a licensed medical marijuana processor. Further, sales by a licensed medical marijuana commercial grower shall be considered wholesale sales and shall not be subject to taxation. Under no circumstances may a licensed medical marijuana commercial grower sell marijuana directly to a licensed medical marijuana patient or licensed medical marijuana caregiver. A licensed medical marijuana commercial grower may only sell at the wholesale level to a licensed medical marijuana dispensary, a licensed medical marijuana commercial grower or a licensed medical marijuana processor. If the federal government lifts restrictions on buying and selling marijuana between states, then a licensed medical marijuana commercial grower would be allowed to sell and buy marijuana wholesale from, or to, a n out-of-state wholesale provider. A licensed medical marijuana commercial grower shall be required to complet e a monthly yield and sales report to the Authority. This report shall be due on the fifteenth of each month and provide reporting on the previo us month. This report shall detail the amount of marijuana harvested in pounds, the amount of drying or dried marijuana on hand, t he amount of marijuana sold to licensed processors in pounds, the amount of waste in pounds, and Req. No. 177 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 the amount of marijuana sold to licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in pounds. Additionally, this repor t shall show total wholesale sales in dollars . The Authority shall have oversight and auditing responsibilities to ensure that all marijuana being grown by licensed medical marijuana commercial growers is accounted for. D. There shall be no limits on how much marijuana a lic ensed medical marijuana commercial grower can grow. E. Beginning on the effective date of this act June 1, 2023, licensed medical marijuana commercial growers shall be authorized to package and sell pre-rolled marijuana to licensed medical marijuana dispensaries. The products described in this subsection shall contain only the ground parts of t he marijuana plant and shall not include marijuana concentrates or derivatives. The total net weight of each pre-roll packaged and sold by licensed medical marijuana commercial growers shall not exc eed one (1) gram. These products must be tested, package d and labeled in accordance with Oklahoma law and rules promulgated by the Authority. F. A commercial grower applicant or licensee shall, prior to engaging in a commercial g rowing operation, either: 1. Acquire a water use permit from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board pursuant to Section 105.9 of Title 8 2 of the Oklahoma Statutes if the commercial growing operat ion uses groundwater or water from an Oklahoma steam; or Req. No. 177 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. Acquire an official statement of permissi on from the county, municipality, or other politica l subdivision that provides water if the commercial growing operation uses rural or municipal water and register the statement with the Authority. Upon failure of a commercial grower licensee to register the water source of a commercial growing operation with the Authority or, if applicable, receive a permit by the Water Res ources Board after ninety (90) days following license rene wal, the Authority shall revoke the commercial grower license. SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Sec tion 423, as last amended by Section 3, Chapter 332, O.S.L. 2022 (63 O. S. Supp. 2022, Section 423), is amended to read as follows: Section 423. A. The Oklahoma Medical Mar ijuana Authority shall make available on its website in an easy-to-find location an application for a medical marijuana processing lice nse. The Authority shall be authorized to issue two t ypes of medical marijuana processor licenses based on the lev el of risk posed by the type of processing conducted: 1. Nonhazardous medical marijuana processor license; and 2. Hazardous medical marijua na processor license . The application fee for a nonhazardous or hazardous medical marijuana processor license shall be paid by the applicant in the amounts provided for in Section 427.14 of this title . A method of payment shall be provided on the website of the Authority. The Req. No. 177 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Authority shall have ninety (90) days to review the application; approve, reject or deny the application; and mail the approval, rejection or denial letter stating the reasons for the rejection or denial to the applicant. B. The Authority shall approve all applications which mee t the following criteria: 1. The applicant must be twenty-five (25) years of age or older; 2. The applicant, if applying as an individual, must show residency in the State of Oklahoma; 3. All applying entities must show that all members, managers, and board members are Oklahoma residents; 4. An applying entity may show ownership of non -Oklahoma residents, but that percentage ownership may not exceed t wenty-five percent (25%); 5. All applying individuals or entities must be registered to conduct business in the State of Oklahoma; and 6. All applicants must disclose all ownership interests in the processing operation; and 7. The applicant shall furnish doc uments evidencing compliance with the provisions of subsection G of this section . Applicants with a nonviolent felony conviction in the last two (2) years, any other felony conviction in the last five (5) years, inmates in the custody of the Department of Corrections or any Req. No. 177 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 person currently incarcerate d shall not qualify for a medic al marijuana processing license. C. 1. A licensed processor may take marijuana plants and distill or process these plants into concentrates, edibles, and other forms for consumption. 2. As required by subsection D of this section, th e Authority shall make available a set of standards which shall be used by licensed processors in the preparation of edible marijuana products. The standards should be in line with curr ent food preparation guidelines. No excessive or punitive rules may b e established by the Authority. 3. Up to two times a year, the Authority may inspect a processing operation and de termine its compliance with the preparation standards. If deficiencies are found, a written report of the deficiency shall be issued to the licensed processor. The licensed processor shall have one (1) month to correct the deficiency or be subject to a f ine of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each deficiency. 4. A licensed processor may sell marijuana pr oducts it creates to a licensed dispensary or any other licensed processor. All sales by a licensed proces sor shall be considered wholesale sales and shall not be subject to taxation. 5. Under no circumstances may a licensed process or sell marijuana or any marijuana product directly to a licensed medical Req. No. 177 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 marijuana patient or licensed caregiver. However, a licensed processor may process cannabis into a concentrated form for a licensed medical marijuana patient for a fee. 6. Licensed processors shall be required to complete a monthly yield and sales report to the Authority. This report shall be due on the fifteenth of each month and shall provide reporting on the previous month. This report shall detail the amount of marijuana and medical marijuana products purchased in pounds, the a mount of marijuana cooked or processed in pounds, and the amount of waste i n pounds. Additionally, this repor t shall show total wholesale sales in dollars. The Authority shall have oversight and auditing responsibilities to ensu re that all marijuana being processed is accounted for. D. The Authority shall oversee the inspection and compliance of licensed processors producing products with marijuana as an additive. The Authority shall be compelled to, within thirty (30) days of passage of this initiative, appoin t twelve (12) Oklahoma residents to the Medical Marijuana Advisory Council, who are marijuana industry experts, to create a list of food safety standards for processing and handling me dical marijuana in Oklahoma. These standards shall be adopted by the Authority and the Authority may enforce these standards for licensed processors. The Authority shall develop a standards review procedure and these standards can be altered by calling anothe r council of twelve (12) Oklahoma Req. No. 177 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 marijuana industry experts . A signed letter of twenty operating, licensed processors shall constitute a need for a new council and standards review. E. If it becomes permissible under federal law, marijuana may be moved across state lines. F. Any device used for the processing or consumption of medical marijuana shall be considered legal to be sold, manufactured, distributed and possessed . No merchant, wholesaler, manufacturer or individual may be unduly harassed or prosecuted for selling, manufacturing or possessing marijuana paraphernalia . G. A processor applicant or licensee shall, prior to engaging in a processing operation, either: 1. Acquire a water use permit from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board pursuant to Section 105.9 of Title 82 of the Oklahoma Statutes if the processing operation uses groundwater or water from an Oklahoma steam; or 2. Acquire an official statement of permission from the county, municipality, or other political subdivision that provides water if the processing operation uses rural or municipal water and regi ster the statement with the Authority. Upon failure of a processor licensee to register the water source of a processing operation with the Authority or, if applicable, receive a permit by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board Req. No. 177 Page 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 after ninety (90) days following license rene wal, the Authority shall revoke the processor license. SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2 023. 59-1-177 MR 1/3/2023 4:37:29 PM