Licenses

(a) Timeframe. A medical marijuana business license shall be issued for a twelve (12) month period expiring one (1) year from the date of issuance. The license may be issued upon receipt of a completed application, payment of application fee, and verification by the Department the individual or entity complies with the requirements set forth in Oklahoma law and this Chapter. (b) Location. A business license issued to a grower, processor, dispensary, or testing laboratory shall only be valid for a single location at the address listed on the application. A transporter license shall only be valid at the physical locations that have been submitted to and approved by the Department and are listed on the application. (c) Renewal of license. (1) It is the responsibility of the license holder to renew the license, with all applicable documentation, prior to the date of expiration of the license by following the procedures provided in OAC 310:681-5-3. (2) Before renewing a license, the Department may require further information and documentation and may require additional background checks to determine the licensee continues to meet the requirements set forth in Oklahoma law and these Rules. Once a certificate of compliance is properly submitted showing full compliance, no additional certificate of compliance will be required for license renewal unless a change of use or occupancy occurs, or other change that would require additional inspection, licensure, or permitting by the state or municipality. (3) The Department may refuse to renew a license of a medical marijuana business for the following: (A) Failure to meet the requirements for licensure set forth in 63 O.S. § 420 et seq; the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act, 63 O.S. § 427.1 et seq.; or OAC 310:681. (B) Noncompliance with 63 O.S. § 420 et seq.; the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act, 63 O.S. § 427.1 et seq.; the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Waste Management Act, 63 O.S. § 427a et seq.; or OAC 310:681. (4) Upon the determination that a licensee has not met the requirements for renewal, the Department shall provide written notice to the licensee. The notice shall provide an explanation for the denial of the renewal application. (5) A commercial licensee that attempts to renew its license after the expiration date of the license shall pay a nonrefundable late renewal fee in the amount of $500.00 to reinstate the license once processed and approved by the Department. A license that has been 2021.11.23_OSDH681_OMMARulesChapterAsAmended 49 expired for more than ninety (90) days shall not be renewed. (d) Liquidation of products. A medical marijuana business licensee whose license is not renewed, or whose license is revoked, suspended, or voluntarily surrendered, shall cease all operations immediately upon expiration of the license and shall dispose of any medical marijuana or medical marijuana products in accordance with OAC 310:681-5-10 that were not liquidated prior to licensure expiration in accordance with Oklahoma law and these Rules. (1) A medical marijuana business has thirty (30) days from date of expiration, revocation, suspension, or surrender of a business license to liquidate and transfer all medical marijuana or medical marijuana products to another medical marijuana business that (1) the medical marijuana business may lawfully sell to and (2) is licensed to possess such medical marijuana or medical marijuana products. (2) Any medical marijuana or medical marijuana products not liquidated in accordance with OAC 310:681 5 2(d)(1) shall be disposed of as specified under OAC 310:681-5-10. (e) Change in information. (1) Licensees shall notify the Department in writing within fourteen (14) days of any changes in contact information by electronically submitting a change request in accordance with the Department's instructions. (2) Licensees shall obtain Department approval prior to for any material changes that affect the licensee's qualifications for licensure. Licensees shall submit a material change request to notify the Department in writing in advance of any material change that may affect the licensee's qualifications for licensure by electronically submitting a change request, along with any relevant documentation and fees, in accordance with the Department's instructions. When submitting a material change request, the licensee will be required to pay a $500.00 nonrefundable fee. Except as is otherwise authorized by the Department, licensees are limited to one location change request, one name change request, and one ownership change request per year of licensure. (A) Medical marijuana business licensees submitting a location change must provide the information and documentation required in OAC 310:681-5-3 relating to locations, including but not limited to the following: (i) If applicable, proof as required in OAC 310:681-5-3(e)(6) that the location of the dispensary is at least one thousand (1,000) feet from any public and private school; (ii) A certificate of compliance as required in OAC 310:681- 5-3(e)(8) on a form prescribed or otherwise authorized by the Department that is issued by the political subdivision where the licensed premises is to be located certifying compliance with the categories listed in 63 O.S. § 426.1(E); and (iii) Any further documentation the Department determines is necessary to ensure the business licensee is still qualified under Oklahoma law and this Chapter to obtain a business license. (B) Medical marijuana business licensees submitting an ownership 2021.11.23_OSDH681_OMMARulesChapterAsAmended 50 change request must provide the information and documentation required in OAC 310:681-5-3 relating to owners, including but not limited to the following: (i) A list of all owners and principal officers of the commercial applicant and supporting documentation as set forth in OAC 310:681-5-3(e)(1); (ii) An affidavit of lawful presence for each new owner; (iii) Documents required under OAC 310:681-5-3(e)(7) establishing that the applicant; and the members, managers, and board members if applicable; and seventy-five percent (75%) of the commercial applicant's ownership interests are Oklahoma residents as required in the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act, 63 O.S. § 427.1 et seq.; (iv) A background check in accordance with OAC 310:681-1-5; and (v) Any further documentation the Department determines is necessary to ensure the business licensee is still qualified under Oklahoma law and this Chapter to obtain a business license. (C) A medical marijuana business licensee submitting a name change request must provide the information and documentation required in OAC 310:681-5-3 relating to the business name, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) A certificate of good standing from the Oklahoma Secretary of State issued within thirty (30) days of submission of the application; (ii) If applicable, official documentation from the Secretary of State establishing the applicant's trade name; (iii) If applicable, an electronic copy or digital image in color of a sales tax permit issued by the Oklahoma Tax Commission; (iv) A list of all owners and principal officers of the licensee under the new name and supporting documentation as set forth in OAC 310:681-5-3(e)(1); (v) Documents establishing that seventy-five (75%) of the ownership of the licensee under the new name are Oklahoma residents in accordance with OAC 310:681-5-3(e)(7); and (vi) Any further documentation the Department determines is necessary to ensure the business licensee is still qualified under Oklahoma law and this Chapter to obtain a business license. (D) Medical marijuana growers, processors, or commercial transporters that have held a valid medical marijuana business license for at least eighteen (18) months and are operating in good standing may submit an ownership change request to add a publicly traded company as an owner. The publicly traded company shall not own more than forty percent (40%) of the equity in the existing medical marijuana grower, processor, or commercial transporter. The following documentation must be provided: (i) If applicable, a certificate of good standing from the Oklahoma Secretary of State issued within thirty (30) days of submission of the application. 2021.11.23_OSDH681_OMMARulesChapterAsAmended 51 (ii) A list of all owners, excluding all shareholders of the publicly traded company, and principal officers of the commercial applicant and supporting documentation as set forth in OAC 310:681-5-3(e)(1); (iii) Documents required under OAC 310:681-5-3(e)(6) establishing that the applicant; and the members, managers, and board members if applicable; and seventy-five percent (75%) of the grower, processor, or transporter applicant's ownership interests, excluding the publicly traded company, are Oklahoma residents as required in the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act, 63 O.S. § 427.1 et seq. (f) Transfer of license. (1) Business licenses may not be wholly assigned or otherwise transferred to a new owner(s) or another legal entity(ies). (2) Licenses may not be changed from one license type to another. (g) Surrender of license. (1) A licensee may voluntarily surrender a license to the Department at any time. (2) If a licensee voluntarily surrenders a license, the licensee shall: (A) Return the license to the Department; (B) Submit on a form prescribed by the Department a report to the Department including the reason for surrendering the license; contact information following the close of business; the person or persons responsible for the close of the business; and where business records will be retained; (C) Submit proof of the licensee's identity through submission of documentation identified in OAC 310:681-1-7 (relating to Proof of Identity); and (D) Liquidate or dispose of any medical marijuana or medical marijuana products remaining in the possession of the licensee in accordance with OAC 310:681-5-2(d) and OAC 310:681-5-10. 310:681-5-2.1 Objection by municipality. Prior to the initial renewal or transfer of a license, a municipal government may object to the continued licensure of a medical marijuana dispensary if the municipal government determines the medical marijuana dispensary is operating contrary to the required setback distance after taking into account the error in measurement allowance. (1) To object to the initial renewal or transfer of a license, the municipal government shall submit the following documentation: (A) An objection in a form and manner as determined by the department; (B) A municipal resolution finding that the medical marijuana dispensary is located within the prohibited setback distance from a school; (C) Documentation establishing that the school in question was openly in existence prior to the medical marijuana dispensary being licensed; (D) Documentation of the measured distance from the school to the marijuana dispensary measuring in a straight line from the school door nearest the front door of the medical marijuana dispensary 2021.11.23_OSDH681_OMMARulesChapterAsAmended 52 to the front door of the medical marijuana dispensary less the error in measurement allowance. (2) If the Department determines a medical marijuana dispensary is operating contrary to the required setback distance from a school, including the error in measurement allowance, the Department may deny the renewal or transfer of license and move for revocation of the license.