Marijuana reform bills pending in Oklahoma Legislature
State Senator Connie Johnson is fighting hard to advance patients' rights in Oklahoma. After the legislature failed to take up her medical marijuana bill last year, Sen. Johnson (D-Oklahoma City) fought to get a hearing before an interim committee between legislative sessions, only to see the chairman of the interim committee again refuse to give the bill a hearing. Fortunately, Sen. Johnson doesn't give up that easily.
She wasted no time introducing her medical marijuana bill, SB 710. If passed, the measure would allow patients with debilitating medical conditions and their caregivers to possess up to eight ounces of marijuana or 12 marijuana plants. They could also obtain marijuana by visiting a state-licensed and regulated dispensing center. Another bill, SB 902, is much shorter, leaving most of the details of the medical marijuana program to the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision.
Johnson didn’t stop there, either. She’s also sponsoring SB 914, which would reduce the penalty for possession of 1.5 ounces of marijuana or less from a maximum of one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 to a maximum of 10 days in jail and a fine of up to $200. Eventually, marijuana should be taxed and regulated just like alcohol. For now, Johnson’s bill is a significant improvement over current law.
Please ask your legislators to support this important legislation. You can also subscribe to our free email alerts for updates on these bills throughout the legislative session. Also, if you are a patient who could benefit from the medical use of marijuana, a medical professional, or a member of the law enforcement or legal communities, please contact MPP to see how you can be of special help in passing these bills.
