Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton
OKLAHOMA CITY – Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, today received passage of Senate Bill 640 on the Senate Floor.
Senate Bill 640 strengthens safeguards for Oklahoma students and places of worship by expanding the setback requirement for medical marijuana facilities. The bill increases the required distance between medical marijuana dispensaries from school entrances and places of worship from 1,000 feet to 3,000 feet, significantly reducing exposure to marijuana-related marketing, imagery or grow operations.
“Our priority must always be the health and well-being of Oklahoma’s children,” Pro Tem Paxton said. “Too often, dispensaries use bright signs, gimmicky branding and other marketing ploys designed to grab attention. The last thing we need is for our kids to walk past these storefronts on their way to school or while at church, normalizing the presence of marijuana at a young age. Oklahoma voters approved medical marijuana, but they did not approve exposing children to its marketing. This is a commonsense step to align our policies with the intent of voters—keeping access for patients while minimizing exposure for minors.”
The legislation comes in response to mounting concerns from parents, educators, community leaders, including pastors, ministers and church leaders about the increasing visibility of marijuana-related businesses near schools and places of worship.
By expanding the required buffer zone, Senate Bill 640 ensures a greater degree of separation between learning environments and places of worship from dispensaries and grow facilities, reinforcing the state’s commitment to keeping schools and places of worship free from undue influence.
The legislation is not retroactive and will not impact existing businesses.
Senate Bill 640 now moves to the House for consideration.
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