Arguments within the case difficult a just lately handed regulation that hikes medical hashish licensing charges for companies have been heard by Oklahoma Supreme Court docket Justice John Kane on Tuesday, the Tulsa World reviews. The plaintiffs declare the will increase are unconstitutional as a result of the regulation is a revenue-raising measure, however lawmakers didn’t comply with the foundations governing the passage of such measures.
The lawsuit, filed by Jed Inexperienced, founding father of Oklahomans for Accountable Hashish Motion, and three corporations towards the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority on June 30, contends that “The Legislature’s hike within the charge construction represents a unprecedented leap within the quantity of income that the State will acquire by way of medical marijuana enterprise licensing.”
Beneath the brand new regulation, annual charges are assessed by way of a tiered licensing program that ranges from the present $2,500 to greater than $50,000.
William Flanagan, assistant solicitor normal for Legal professional Normal Gentner Drummond, on Tuesday requested the court docket to not take the case, arguing that the invoice will not be a revenue-raising measure however that the charges are going to a regulatory goal and can hemp officers enhance public security and reduce the hashish provide within the state, the report says. A Hashish Public Coverage Consulting research commissioned by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority revealed in June discovered Oklahoma hashish growers produced 64 instances extra medical hashish than the market demanded.
“The fast growth of the trade has supplied alternatives for organized crime, and the growth has made it troublesome for regulators to maintain up,” the state stated in its response to the lawsuit. “To handle the oversupply of marijuana within the State, the Legislature enacted Home Invoice 2179 to boost a few of Oklahoma’s uniquely low licensing charges to a degree according to that of different states.”
Stephen L. Cale, an lawyer for the plaintiffs, stated the matter is of constitutional and public concern and that the state Supreme Court docket ought to take the case as a result of the invoice has a statewide influence.
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