Oklahoma City, OK: Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt has vetoed legislation, Senate Bill 437, that sought to impose new rules limiting patients’ medical cannabis access.
Changes proposed by the bill included: Requiring recommending physicians to participate in a state registry; mandating younger patients to receive recommendations from multiple physicians, one of whom has been the patient’s primary provider for at least one year; and requiring regulators to create new rules limiting the amount of THC in certain edible products.
House members voted 72 to 20 in support of the bill, while senators favored it by a vote of 36 to 8.
Governor Stitt failed to identify which provisions in the bill he opposed. The Governor previously signed legislation into law placing a moratorium on the establishment of new medical cannabis dispensaries and/or providers. Oklahoma voters approved a statewide initiative in 2018 legalizing cannabis for medical use.
Because the 2023 legislative session has adjourned, lawmakers will not have an opportunity to override the Governor’s veto.
Additional information on pending legislation is available from NORML’s Action Center.