Bill No. 1163 amends the Trafficking in Illegal Drugs Act in Oklahoma, significantly tightening the penalties for marijuana trafficking offenses. The bill reduces the weight threshold for aggravated trafficking from 1,000 pounds to 25 pounds, introducing fines ranging from $25,000 to $500,000 based on the amount involved, and imposing a mandatory prison term of up to 20 years for first-time offenders, with increased penalties for repeat offenders. Additionally, a new special assessment trauma-care fee of $100 is established for those convicted of drug trafficking.

The bill also revises the regulations for medical marijuana patient licenses, allowing individuals who can state a medical condition to possess up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana without a medical marijuana license, treating this as a misdemeanor instead of a felony. It establishes the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to oversee the licensing process, ensuring patient privacy and providing online application access. The bill outlines the criteria for obtaining both medical marijuana caregiver and patient licenses, including age and residency requirements, and mandates that applications be signed by a licensed Oklahoma physician, protecting them from penalties for doing so. Local governments are given the authority to create guidelines that may permit license holders to exceed state limits on medical marijuana. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 63-420
House Committee Substitute: 63-420
Floor (House): 63-420
Engrossed: 63-420