Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed a bill containing medical marijuana program reforms this evening.
During floor hearings, HB 3228 had been pitched to legislators as featuring changes largely requested by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority. It adjusted provisions for the state’s medical marijuana industry and program that ranged from deliveries to temporary licenses.
The primary components of HB 3228 include:
- Authorization of 90-day medical marijuana patient licenses that are renewable;
- Authorization for dispensaries to produce flower-only pre-rolls on site;
- Permission for dispensaries to deliver within a 10-mile radius of their locations. For patients who live in a residence not covered by any dispensary’s 10-mile radius, a dispensary in the same county would be authorized to make deliveries to patients.
- Changing rules about certificates of compliance for dispensaries. If a dispensary does not make major construction changes to its business, there is no annual renewal necessary;
- Allowing existing dispensaries to remain in operation if they later fall within 1,000 feet of a school.
NonDoc obtained Stitt’s veto message from a third party prior to its distribution by the administration.
“HB 3228 is a lengthy bill that alters Oklahoma’s medical marijuana program. The language in the bill makes substantial policy changes to the medical marijuana program that were not fully scrutinized through normal legislative procedures before the bill was received by my office in the middle of the night Saturday,” Stitt wrote in his veto message. “While there is much room for improvement in the way our state’s program operates, this bill does not address those items in a way I can support.”
Fetgatter calls for veto override
Stitt’s veto was critiqued by Rep. Scott Fetgatter (R-Okmulgee) on Thursday evening.
“It irresponsible for the governor to veto HB 3228. This contains requests from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and many others. Due to COVID-19, we had to put several fixes into one bill,” Fetgatter said. “This bill also addresses multiple issues that have pending lawsuits that will now be forced to get fought out in the courts.”
RELATED
Gov. Stitt vetoes hospital fee for Medicaid expansion by Tres Savage
Fetgatter pointed to the bill’s broad legislative support. It passed the House 90-6 and the Senate 38-5. After a series of Senate amendments, it returned to the House late Friday night and became the final measure passed by the body that evening by a 67-11 vote.
“It is a rare occurrence when the state agency who regulates the industry as well as those in the industry all are in agreement on regulations,” Fetgatter said. “I hope my colleagues will join together to override the veto so the state doesn’t have to spend a lot of money losing lawsuits.”
Lawmakers are returning to the Capitol at 10 a.m. Friday, May 22, to attempt to override some of Stitt’s numerous vetoes.
(Correction: This story was updated at 4:20 p.m. Sunday, June 7, to reference the school boundary distance properly.)
