The city of Henryetta is currently working with the Oklahoma Municipal League to determine how to set up local laws regarding medical marijuana.
That product was the sole topic at a meeting of the Henryetta Planning and Zoning board this month.
Retired district judge David Martin explained some of the issues within the law passed last August. “Right now we have more questions than answers,” he pointed out.
Currently Oklahoma provides for eight licenses to be issued including a patient, caregiver, temporary, grower, processor, dispensary, transportation and research.
“You will probably be dealing with a dispensary,” he said. “They are popping up everywhere.”
Martin admitted the biggest problem is zoning. “You can’t enact laws the interfere with a dispensary location.” The only restriction is keeping a dispensary 1,000 feet from a public or private school. “You have a setback on liquor stores,” he pointed out.
Zoning can keep growers from operating within the city limits but, it was pointed out that there can be instances where schools are located at the edge of the city limits.
Members of the board were told a business license fee can be established for a dispensary but it cannot be so high as to make it unduly restrictive.
“There is legislation going through the Capitol that we hope will address some of these issues,” he added.
No date was set for a proposed city ordinance dealing with medical marijuana to be brought before the city council.