Oklahoma lawmakers hears from medical marijuana activist group – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

FAIR. YEAH, GUYS, THIS GROUP IS FIGHTING THE STATE GOVERNMENT ON THIS. THEY SAY MARIJUANA BUSINESSES THAT PLAY BY THE RULES WILL BE HURT BY THIS. DISPENSARIES COULD GO FROM 2500 UP TO $10,000. PROCESSORS COULD GO UP TO AS HIGH AS $30,000 ANNUALLY. MEMBERS OF OKLAHOMANS FOR RESPONSIBLE CANNABIS ACTION IN THE COURTROOM DURING A STATE SUPREME COURT HEARING TODAY. THE GROUP IS CHALLENGING NEW GROWER AND DISPENSARY FEES STEMMING FROM HOUSE BILL 2179. WE BELIEVE THAT THE LICENSE FEES BEING RAISED ACTUALLY AMOUNTED TO AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL TAX INCREASE. BUT COURT DOCUMENTS FROM THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT ARGUE OTHERWISE. AS THIS FILING FROM JULY 25TH SHOWS, A JUDGE SAID THE LICENSING FEES ARE NOT A TAX. THEY’RE USED TO COMPENSATE MAY FOR REGULATING THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR BIG CONCERN IS THEY’RE HITTING THE GOOD GUYS AND THAT’S ONLY HELPING THE BAD GUYS. GREEN IS WORRIED THE HIGHER FEES WILL ONLY HURT THE LEGITIMATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESSES AND DO NOTHING TO FIGHT AGAINST BLACK MARKET SALES. AND HE SAYS IT’S GETTING HARDER FOR BUSINESS OWNERS TO KEEP THEIR COMPLIANCES AND LICENSES UP TO DATE, BOTH ON AND OFF. MAY HAVE BEGUN TO REQUIRE A GREATER DEPTH OF COMPLIANCE ACROSS OTHER AGENCIES IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN LICENSURE WITH THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, THINGS LIKE MEETING BUILDING CODES AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE NOW ARE FACTORS WHEN A MARIJUANA BUSINESS OWNER TRIES TO RENEW THEIR LICENSES, THE RENEWALS TO…

Original Author Link click here to read complete story..