New group will push for medical marijuana regulation before the vote

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — A new trade association is starting an effort to get ready for medical marijuana in Oklahoma.

FOX 25 talked with the executive director of New Health Solutions Oklahoma, Bud Scott on Wednesday.

"There are some inadequacies and some unresolved issues in [State Question] 788 that we feel need to be addressed through a legislative effort," he said.

SQ788, the medical marijuana issue, is on the primary ballot on June 26. In its latest poll, SoonerPoll reported nearly 62% of Oklahoma voters strongly or somewhat support the measure.

If those numbers hold, and this issue passes, Scott says Oklahoma needs to be prepared before the vote. Right now, he said, the debate has been focused on the moral issue of whether marijuana is good or bad, but the focus needs to be on implementation.

"Our goal is to have this done in a responsible, regulated manner. We want to spell everything out so everyone knows what we're dealing with, how to address this, how to go through an application process and so every party knows what's involved," Scott said.

Scot said New Health Solutions will work with lawmakers on provisions for things like employers’ rights, grow licenses and transportation issues.

"We believe that passing legislation in advance is the best and clearest way to lay out that path and make it available for all applications to be successful," he said. "One of the reasons we don't want to come back and change it after the fact, is that the citizens of Oklahoma may feel like they're being usurped, that their will is being usurped."