Concerns about Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority oversight renewed with new director’s appointment | News

“It’s anti-business, anti-Republican and it’s unfair,” Fetgatter said. “There are thousands of people who are trying to make a legitimate business out of this.

“It’s hypocritical of government to say ‘We’re pro-business, but we don’t like your product, so we’re not pro-your-business.’”

A press release on Berry’s hiring quoted McCortney as saying rural Oklahoma has “significant problems” with “illegal grows and foreigners purchasing large amounts of land to establish these grows.”

“I’m thrilled to be working with Adria to tackle these problems head-on,” his statement said.

Echols said it’s not a matter of legislation, but oversight.

“We already have laws to deal with the explosion of illegal grows in the state of Oklahoma,” he said. “The problem is those laws are not being enforced. I think Adria, combined with fixing the structural problems at OMMA, will go a long way in enforcing the laws we have in place.”

Berry previously worked in Stitt’s administration as counselor to the Secretary of State and most recently worked with the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma.

“She’s definitely been involved in cannabis since the passage of 788, so she should have a good grasp of the issues,” Fetgatter said.