Oklahoma will stop giving out new licenses to grow, sell, or process marijuana at the end of August. The moratorium was supposed to start Monday, but the application deadline was extended at the last minute.
The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority admitted it made a mistake Saturday and had misinterpreted the law. Bills in the Oklahoma legislature must pass with a two-thirds majority to take effect sooner than 90 days after the governor signs them. The text of House Bill 3208 said the moratorium would begin on August 1st, but it did not meet the required vote threshold. Since it was signed by Governor Stitt on May 26th, it could not take effect before August 26th.
Green Cross Meds, a medical marijuana dispensary in Tulsa, has had a rough year. Two-thirds of their profits went up in smoke. Matt Boyd, the dispensary’s owner, said he’s not alone, and that’s why it’s time for this moratorium.
“In the last year, I’m not the only dispensary owner that has felt a decline in business, and it’s not because of anything we’ve done different,” he explained. “It’s just because there’s been so many dispensaries that have opened up. Just the limit of ‘no more new dispensaries’ coming into business is gonna help all of us existing dispensary owners now.”
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