A state legislator wants a law requiring dispensaries to be at least 900 feet from “places of worship,” said Tulsa medical marijuana attorney Stephen Cale.
Rep. Jim Olsen (R-Roland) recently introduced his HB 1014. If passed into law, it would prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries from being within 900 feet of a “place of worship,” Cale said.
PLACE OF WORSHIP DEFINED
The bill defines “place of worship” as
- Any permanent building, structure, facility or office space owned, leased, rented or borrowed, on a full-time basis, and used no less than biweekly for worship services, activities or business of the congregation, which shall include, but not be limited to, churches, temples, synagogues and mosques; and
- Any permanent building, structure, facility or office space owned, leased, rented or borrowed for use on a temporary basis of no less than twelve (12) months, and used no less than biweekly for worship services, activities or business of the congregation, which shall include, but not be limited to, churches, temples, synagogues and mosques.
EXCEPTION FOR EXISTING DISPENSARIES
The bill has a grandfather clause, exempting dispensaries established before November 1, 2023, from the distancing requirement.
2023 OKLAHOMA LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Olsen introduced similar legislation in 2019. The deadline for introducing bills for the 2023 session is Jan. 19, 2023. The Legislative session begins at noon Feb. 6, 2023.
WORKING WITH THE CALE LAW OFFICE
The Cale Law Office is dedicated to the practice of medical marijuana law and criminal defense. Our mission is to achieve the best possible results for our clients through hard work, attention to detail, and aggressive representation. This is done while maintaining the highest level of professionalism.
We have helped numerous people set up marijuana businesses and acquire their OMMA dispensary, processor, and grower medical marijuana licenses. If you need legal representation in the Oklahoma medical marijuana industry, call the Cale Law Office at 918-771-7314. Or, contact us through the web. Your initial consultation is free. We also represent people and businesses in OMMA and OBNDD matters.
Tulsa, Oklahoma, medical marijuana attorney Stephen Cale is a Legal Committee member of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). He also serves on the board of Green Country NORML, a Tulsa chapter of NORML. He also is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association Cannabis Law Committee.