OKLAHOMA CITY - Despite getting the federal government's go-ahead to grow and sell marijuana, local tribes are showing little interest in expanding into the trade. If they did, says one expert in Native American affairs, it would raise a tangle of questions involving tribal and state law that are unique to Oklahoma. State leaders have outlawed marijuana - its growth, possession or use - - and violators face prison. But the 39 federally recognized tribes here have a way around that. A Justice Department memo published last week cites tribal sovereignty as grounds to allow the cultivation of marijuana on their land. [continues 501 words]
A leader of efforts to revise Oklahoma's marijuana laws says Attorney General Scott Pruitt's attempt to stop legal retail sales in Colorado is "ridiculous" and mischaracterizes that state's cannabis industry. Chip Paul, a Tulsa business owner and leader of Oklahomans for Health, said it would be impossible to accumulate more than a small quantity of marijuana through legal purchases in Colorado, and that licensed growers have too much at stake to sell on the black market. "It's just not possible," Paul said in a telephone interview. [continues 330 words]
Large Amounts of the Stronger Marijuana Are Arriving, Officials Say. Legal retail sales of marijuana in Colorado have had a definite if indirect impact on Oklahoma law enforcement agencies, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Board of Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Control said. "We are seeing collateral effects," said Mark Woodward. "It is a big deal because the marijuana coming out of Colorado is so much more powerful than what we've seen in the past." Woodward said the OBNDDC supports Attorney General Scott Pruitt's decision to join Nebraska's Jon Bruning in a suit to stop the commercial production and sale of marijuana in Colorado. [continues 699 words]
Oklahoma on Thursday joined with Nebraska in filing a lawsuit asking the U.S. Supreme Court to deem Colorado's recreational marijuana law unconstitutional. The states argue that Colorado's Amendment 64 runs counter to federal law, has created a dangerous gap in the federal drug control system and places an undue burden on neighboring states that have seen an increase in the amount of Colorado marijuana flooding across their borders. "Federal law classifies marijuana as an illegal drug," Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt said in a written statement announcing the lawsuit. "The health and safety risks posed by marijuana, especially to children and teens, are well documented." [continues 439 words]
It may be awhile before Oklahomans will be able to light a joint while playing slots. The Department of Justice ruled Thursday that Indian tribes could grow and sell marijuana on tribal lands, but the ramifications of this action remain a mystery. "We don't know if tribes can legally sell it yet," Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Mark Woodward said. "We just don't know the answer." Woodward said it would take much more discussion and possibly a judge's ruling before the facts become less sticky when it comes to tribes selling pot in casinos. Using and selling marijuana remains illegal under state law. [continues 411 words]
A Justice Department Memo Says New Policy Is Nonenforcement. Despite a U.S. Department of Justice memo this week indicating Indian governments could grow and sell marijuana on tribal lands, officials said don't expect a thriving, legal pot industry anytime soon in Oklahoma. Technically, marijuana is still an illegal drug under Oklahoma and federal law. But a memo released this week by Justice Department officials said tribes could expect the same nonenforcement of certain aspects of federal drug laws on reservations and tribal lands as in states that have legalized pot. [continues 608 words]
The Next Great Roadside Attraction THE AMERICAN VOICES website recently requested reader comment about a portable Breathalyzer test that soon will be available to help police identify drivers impaired by marijuana. Here's how self-described scarf knitter Angela Dixon responded: "Can't people just tell the truth when they're high? Why do we need all these fancy gadgets?" And, this from Paul Desroches, a products tester: "Wouldn't it be easier just to pull over everyone who is actually driving the speed limit?" [continues 657 words]
(AP) - As more states approve the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana, an Oklahoma-based electronic cigarette retailer is looking to build a national franchise. Marijuana is illegal under federal drug laws. But voters in Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C., approved ballot measures Tuesday to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, joining Washington state and Colorado. And in more than a dozen other states, medical marijuana is available. The growing availability of legal pot opens the door for Tulsa-based Palm Beach Vapors to market a method for producing a cannabis oil product that can be inhaled through a common e-cigarette, according to CEO and co-founder Chip Paul. "This is a wave that's kind of sweeping the nation," said Paul, whose company is looking to patent the method and has already signed licensing deals in California and Colorado for what it calls the M-System. He said he intends to set up franchise locations in other states. [continues 477 words]
E-Cig Company Sees Great Opportunity OKLAHOMA CITY - As more states approve the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana, an Oklahoma-based electronic cigarette retailer is looking to build a national franchise. Marijuana is illegal under federal drug laws. But voters in Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C., approved ballot measures Tuesday to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, joining Washington state and Colorado. And in more than a dozen other states, medical marijuana is available. The growing availability of legal pot opens the door for Tulsa-based Palm Beach Vapors to market a method for producing a cannabis oil product that can be inhaled through a common e-cigarette, according to CEO and co-founder Chip Paul. [continues 232 words]
"Considerable downside to decriminalization of pot" (Our Views, Oct. 13) criticized state Sen. Connie Johnson for advocating decriminalizing marijuana use. Yet any thinking person has to recognize the wisdom of Johnson's position. Pot shouldn't be categorized as a Schedule I drug. It's not addictive like opiates or amphetamines. Despite the claims of law enforcement officials, it's not a "gateway drug." Enforcement of laws against marijuana possession, use and sale result in racial inequities in arrest and prosecution of perpetrators. A New York Times editorial on Oct. 11 noted that an equal percentage of blacks and whites use illegal drugs, but blacks are arrested three times as often. A Seattle study found that 16 percent of observed drug dealers of the five most dangerous drugs were black, but they represented 64 percent of arrests for dealing those drugs. [continues 105 words]
MARIJUANA legalization was highlighted in a recent debate between Oklahoma candidates for a U.S. Senate seat. This issue continues to bubble up in political discussions, so it's important that associated policy decisions be based on facts. Research continues to identify significant consequences to recreational marijuana use. The Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, state Sen. Connie Johnson of Oklahoma City, supports decriminalizing marijuana use. She defended that stance in the debate. Her opponent, U.S. Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, isn't a fan of that idea. [continues 491 words]
WHEN government closes a window, the market opens a door. Sadly, this describes the methamphetamine problem in Oklahoma. This state has been a national leader in the meth manufacturing crackdown, finding ways to restrict the purchase of ingredients used to cook meth. But as fewer meth "labs" are being found and shut down by state authorities, the number of meth-related overdose deaths continues to rise. The reason is that the domestic supply disruption has been met with a foreign supply influx. This isn't a new development, but the latest numbers are startling. Meth demand isn't going down, but the supply chain has added more links to Mexico. [continues 461 words]
Here's a riddle: How many knowledgeable people does it take to suggest a policy change before society adopts their sage advice? Buried in all the recent news about ISIS, horrific weather lashing the United States, the violence of NFL players and the like, came a hardly noticed news item about the idea of legalizing drugs. Now, stay with me on this. It's important. The Global Commission on Drug Policy, an illustrious panel including former U.N. Secretary Gen. Kofi Annan, former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz, former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Paul Volcker, former presidents and prime ministers of nearly a dozen countries and others issued a detailed study about why it's smart - for reasons both humanitarian and financial - to legalize marijuana and other drugs. Yes, all drugs. [continues 152 words]
Cannabidiol (CBD) may help control seizures in some children. CBD is a nonintoxicating, refined whole plant product of a special marijuana species. It's low in THC, the intoxicating component of marijuana, but CBD is illegal in Oklahoma. State law needs to be changed, as 16 states already have. The incidence of children with a current diagnosis of a seizure disorder is conservatively about 6.3 per 1,000 in the U.S., or about 5,900 in Oklahoma. With available medications, about half derive real benefit - with many suffering side effects, which can be severe. Judging from the extreme interest of parents with epileptic children who attended a recent lecture at Children's Hospital, all 5,900 sets of parents will be at their physician's doorstep the moment CBD becomes available. [continues 103 words]
Backers of a medical marijuana initiative collected only about half the signatures needed to put the issue before voters, the Oklahoma secretary of state's office said Thursday. A total of 75,384 signatures were collected, but more than 155,216 were needed to put it on the Nov. 4 ballot. The proposed initiative was intended to classify marijuana as an herbal drug to be regulated by the state Health Department. More than three dozen medical conditions, from asthma to urinary incontinence, would qualify a person to get a medical card through a doctor to receive marijuana. [continues 113 words]
The Marijuana Extract May Help Children With Dravet Syndrome. With wavy brown hair and an impish grin, 6-year-old Morgan Adler had all the stylists vying for his attention during a recent visit to his mom's beauty salon. Morgan decided instead to strike up a quiet conversation with an elderly woman as her hair color processed, gently nudging his way into the seat next to her. Taylor Adler said watching her son's kindness in that moment, and many others, melted her heart. [continues 1057 words]
Many believe that reform to drug laws is appropriate, and I welcome that debate. I believe we need to continue to explore evidence-based prevention, access to treatment, and alternatives to incarceration. But substance abuse is a public health issue, as well as a criminal justice problem. I do not believe that legalization of marijuana solves the issues raised in the debate on drug policy. We must consider the public health problems associated with increased availability of marijuana. A review of some of the facts cited by the Office of National Drug Control Policy is important for people to consider before they decide this issue. [continues 692 words]
As a longtime practicing attorney engaged in criminal defense, I have handled hundreds of marijuana-related cases in city, state and federal courts throughout Oklahoma, and nationally. I have witnessed the damaging effects to individual liberty and a multitude of barriers to legitimate employment from its classification as a Schedule I controlled substance. Aside from generating huge amounts of dollars for use by law enforcement agencies in fighting a "war" that cannot be won, supporters of continued criminalization of marijuana ultimately will see it fail. [continues 653 words]
"Hey, Jane." "Yes, Dick?" "Now that Oklahoma has legalized marijuana, let's go watch mother and father get high. Just think, Jane, in a few years we can join them and it will be a family thing." "Gee, Dick, what a wonderful world." "Just think, Jane, when the whole country legalizes pot, the drug cartels will have to lower their prices on the really hard drugs to compete with the marijuana." "Gee, Dick, the whole country can get turned on and really drop out. What a wonderful country." "Yes, Jane, and when we develop respiratory and psychological problems, we can use Oklahoma's state insurance program to help us. What a wonderful country. "Hey, Jane, do you think Spot and Fluffy would like a brownie?" Ben Hoke, Tulsa [end]
Inside Oklahoma
