SB 640: Medical marijuana license; modifying certain distance; updating statutory language. Effective date. - Oklahoma

SB640 (3-17-25) (BULLARD) FA2.PDF → Floor (Senate) · 7 edits

MODERATE

The Senate Floor version of SB 640 significantly expanded protections for licensed medical marijuana patients and clarified zoning and setback rules for dispensaries. Key additions include anti-discrimination provisions for employers, custody and licensing protections, and updated setback distances for dispensaries near schools.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from primarily addressing school setbacks to include comprehensive protections for medical marijuana patients in employment, custody, licensing, and municipal zoning matters.

ELIGIBILITY

Added anti-discrimination protections preventing employers from penalizing licensed medical marijuana patients, with exceptions only if federal law would be violated.

Added protections ensuring medical marijuana patients cannot be denied custody, visitation, or parenting time with children.

Added protections preventing denial of state licenses (including concealed carry permits) based on medical marijuana patient status.

Added provision stating medical marijuana use for organ transplants is treated as equivalent to other prescribed medications.

REQUIREMENT

Modified school setback distances from 3,000 feet to 1,000 feet, with grandfathering provisions for existing dispensaries.

Added municipal zoning protections preventing cities from restricting medical marijuana dispensary locations.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'school' and 'error in measurement' to clarify setback distance calculations.

SB640 (3-13-25) (PAXTON) WDFA1.PDF → SB640 (3-17-25) (BULLARD) FA2.PDF · 2 edits

MINOR

The amendment adds protections for places of worship by establishing grandfathering rules for setback distances when new religious buildings are built near existing marijuana dispensaries or growers. It also corrects formatting errors in the bill text and adjusts the amendment submission details.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include marijuana growers in addition to retail marijuana dispensaries when determining setback distance protections for places of worship.

ELIGIBILITY

Added protection for places of worship established within 3,000 feet of retail marijuana growers, not just dispensaries, allowing them to maintain original setback distances if licensed first.

TECHNICAL

Fixed formatting inconsistencies in amendment instructions and changed the amendment submission date from March 18 to March 17, 2025.

SB640 (3-13-25) (PAXTON) FA1.PDF → SB640 (3-13-25) (PAXTON) WDFA1.PDF · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill version was updated from March 13 to March 18, 2025, with no substantive policy changes. The document appears to be a technical revision of the same legislative text.

TECHNICAL

Document timestamp updated from 3/13/2025 4:10 PM to 3/18/2025 9:37 AM, indicating a version revision without policy impact

Engrossed → SB640 (3-13-25) (PAXTON) FA1.PDF · 3 edits

MINOR

This amendment adds a definition for 'place of worship' to clarify which religious buildings are protected from medical marijuana dispensaries, and moves the place of worship setback provision to a new paragraph in the statute. The change clarifies that dispensaries cannot be located within 3,000 feet of churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, or other permanent religious facilities used for worship services.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly defines 'place of worship' to include various religious buildings and facilities, expanding clarity on which locations are protected from dispensary proximity requirements.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'place of worship' specifying it includes permanent buildings, structures, facilities, or office spaces owned, leased, or rented full-time and used weekly for worship services, activities, or religious business, including churches, temples, synagogues, and mosques.

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized the statute by moving the place of worship setback provision from the end of the document to a new paragraph 3, clarifying that dispensaries cannot be located within 3,000 feet of a place of worship established after a license is issued.

TITLE

Modified the bill title to conform with the new content, though the specific title change is not detailed in the amendment text.

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · Mar 18, 2025

MODERATE

SB 640 was amended to expand protections for medical marijuana patients and add new restrictions on dispensary locations. The bill now explicitly prohibits discrimination against patients in employment, custody, and licensing matters, while also adding a new provision that prohibits dispensary locations within 3,000 feet of places of worship.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include places of worship as a protected location type for setback distance requirements, and employment protections were clarified to explicitly cover hiring, termination, and employment terms.

REQUIREMENT

Added new provision prohibiting medical marijuana dispensaries from being located within 3,000 feet of any place of worship.

Updated school setback distance language to clarify the 1,000-foot and 3,000-foot distance requirements.

DEFINITION

Added explicit definition of 'school' by referencing Section 427.2 of the title.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that employers cannot discriminate against medical marijuana patients in hiring, termination, or employment conditions.

TIMELINE

Updated effective date references and grandfathering provisions for existing licensed dispensaries.

Medical marijuana license; modifying certain distance; updating statutory language. Effective date.

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors