A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority within the State Department of Health which shall address issues related to the medical marijuana program in Oklahoma including, but not limited to, the issuance of patient licenses and medical marijuana business licenses, and the dispensing, cultivating, processing, testing, transporting, storage, research, and the use of and sale of medical marijuana pursuant to this act.

B. The Department shall provide support staff to perform designated duties of the Authority. The Department shall also provide office space for meetings of the Authority.

C. The Department shall implement the provisions of this act consistently with the voter-approved State Question No. 788, Initiative Petition No. 412, subject to the provisions of this act.

D. The Department shall exercise its respective powers and perform its respective duties and functions as specified in this act and Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Determine steps the state shall take, whether administrative or legislative in nature, to ensure that research on marijuana and marijuana products is being conducted for public purposes, including the advancement of:

a.public health policy and public safety policy,

b.agronomic and horticultural best practices, and

c.medical and pharmacopoeia best practices;

2. Contract with third-party vendors and other governmental entities in order to carry out the respective duties and functions as specified in this act;

3. Upon complaint or upon its own motion and upon a completed investigation, levy fines as prescribed in this act and suspend or revoke licenses pursuant to this act;

4. Issue subpoenas for the appearance or production of persons, records and things in connection with disciplinary or contested cases considered by the Department;

5. Apply for injunctive or declaratory relief to enforce the provisions of this section and any rules promulgated pursuant to this section;

6. Inspect and examine, with notice provided in accordance with this act, all licensed premises of medical marijuana businesses, research facilities and education facilities in which medical marijuana is cultivated, manufactured, sold, stored, transported, tested or distributed;

7. Upon action by the federal government by which the production, sale and use of marijuana in Oklahoma does not violate federal law, work with the Oklahoma State Banking Department and the State Treasurer to develop good practices and standards for banking and finance for medical marijuana businesses;

8. Establish internal control procedures for licenses including accounting procedures, reporting procedures and personnel policies;

9. Establish a fee schedule and collect fees for performing background checks as the Commissioner deems appropriate. The fees charged pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed the actual cost incurred for each background check; and

10. Require verification for sources of finance for medical marijuana businesses.

Added by Laws 2019, c. 11, § 3. Amended by Laws 2019, c. 477, § 6.