A. A medical marijuana research license may be issued to a person to grow, cultivate, possess and transfer, by sale or donation, marijuana pursuant to this act for the limited research purposes identified in this section.

B. The fee for a medical marijuana research license shall be Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) and shall be payable by an applicant for a medical marijuana research license upon submission of his or her application to the Authority.

C. A medical marijuana research license may be issued for the following research purposes:

1. To test chemical potency and composition levels;

2. To conduct clinical investigations of marijuana-derived medicinal products;

3. To conduct research on the efficacy and safety of administering marijuana as part of medical treatment;

4. To conduct genomic, horticultural or agricultural research; and

5. To conduct research on marijuana-affiliated products or systems.

D. 1. As part of the application process for a medical marijuana research license, an applicant shall submit to the Authority a description of the research that the applicant intends to conduct and whether the research will be conducted with a public institution or using public money. If the research will not be conducted with a public institution or with public money, the Authority shall grant the application if it determines that the applicant meets the criteria in this section.

2. If the research will be conducted with a public institution or public money, the Department shall review the research project of the applicant to determine if it meets the requirements of this section and to assess the following:

a.the quality, study design, value or impact of the project,

b.whether the applicant has the appropriate personnel, expertise, facilities, infrastructure, funding and human, animal or other approvals in place to successfully conduct the project, and

c.whether the amount of marijuana to be grown by the applicant is consistent with the scope and goals of the project.

3. If the Authority determines that the research project does not meet the requirements of this section or assesses the criteria to be inadequate, the application shall be denied.

E. A medical marijuana research licensee may only transfer, by sale or donation, marijuana grown within its operation to other medical marijuana research licensees. The Department may revoke a medical marijuana research license for violations of this section and any other violation of this act.

F. A medical marijuana research licensee may contract to perform research in conjunction with a public higher education research institution or another medical marijuana research licensee.

G. The growing, cultivating, possessing or transferring, by sale or donation, of marijuana in accordance with this section and the rules promulgated pursuant thereto, by a medical marijuana research licensee shall not be a criminal or civil offense under state law. A medical marijuana research license shall be issued in the name of the applicant and shall specify the location in Oklahoma at which the medical marijuana research licensee intends to operate. A medical marijuana research licensee shall not allow any other person to exercise the privilege of the license.

H. If the research conducted includes a public institution or public money, the Authority shall review any reports made by medical marijuana research licensees under state licensing authority rule and provide the Authority with its determination on whether the research project continues to meet research qualifications pursuant to this section.

Added by Laws 2019, c. 11, § 19.