State health department would regulate marijuana, if voters approve state question

OKLAHOMA CITY — A state agency that has proved inept at managing its own finances would be placed in charge of regulating and auditing marijuana growers and dispensaries if Oklahoma voters approve medical marijuana during the upcoming June 26 election.

State Question 788 would assign those oversight tasks and many more to the Oklahoma Health Department.

That's the same agency that hid millions of dollars in a slush fund, laid off 198 employees and then talked state lawmakers into a $30 million emergency bailout with what proved to be false claims of near insolvency, according to recent grand jury and state auditors' reports.

State Question 788 is "an unworkable framework that tasks an overburdened, investigation ridden and chronically mismanaged Department of Health to engage in a huge undertaking in just 60 days," opposition group "SQ 788 is NOT Medical" said in response to a reporter's inquiry.

Read more: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/state/state-health-department-would-regulate-marijuana-if-voters-approve-state/article_d135d28a-05ff-5918-b0f1-e5d6571328d8.html