Oklahoma regulators revoke medical cannabis testing lab license
State regulators have confiscated a medical cannabis testing lab license in Oklahoma.
Allegedly, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) believes that the Nationwide Engineering and Testing Lab is guilty of “violations that place the public’s health and safety at risk.”
Last month, an application was filed by the OMMA to revoke the license and stop the company from operating at its facility in the city. This is based on a report by TV station KFOR.
The OMMA’s argument affirms that, aside from breaching health and safety issues, the lab committed the following violations:
- Failed to sufficiently test for heavy metals;
- Improperly stored cannabis samples;
- Transported medical cannabis samples without the correct license.
Despite the fact that Nationwide Engineering and Testing has denied all allegations, the Oklahoma City Fire Marshal ordered the lab to quit operations back in December due to fire-code violations and failure to obtain the necessary permits.
However, regulators were infuriated when the lab ignored their request and “continued to operate in unsafe conditions.” Consequently, an administrative law judge ruled that the lab breached state laws and regulations.
Oklahoma medical cannabis regulators slammed with lawsuit over seed-to-sale tracking
The State Department of Health (DOH) and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA), which is responsible for overseeing the state’s medical cannabis market, are currently battling a class action lawsuit.
Based on details of the lawsuit, the implementation of Metrc’s seed-to-sale tracking program is unconstitutional and therefore must be prevented. The system monitors the plant from its source, until it makes its way to the customer.
“They’re being required by the OMMA to follow the terms of a contract they had nothing to do with, which we believe is a violation of Oklahoma law,” said cannabis attorney Ronald Durbin, who provides representation for around 10,000 licensed cannabis companies statewide.
“With Metrc, you’re forced to buy tags for nearly every product that you put out, there’s only one place the tags can come from though and that’s through Metrc, which allows them to control the pricing and availability,” said the owner of Likewise Cannabis, Corbin Wyatt.
About Oklahoma’s medical cannabis program
Overseen by the Oklahoma Medical Cannabis Authority (OMMA), the state’s medical cannabis program allows registered patients to possess the following:
- 1 ounce of concentrates
- 6 mature cannabis plants
- 6 seedlings
- 8 ounces in their private property
- 72 ounces of edibles.
Applications must first be submitted on the OMMA website. Once an application has been filled out correctly, the recipient will receive their card within a 14-day submission window.
The cost of holding a license for two years is $100. However, there’s an opportunity to pay a reduced fee of $20 if the applicant can prove they are a disabled veteran. This discount also applies for those who are enrolled with Medicaid (SoonerCare) or Medicare.
