A group of marijuana businesses have filed a lawsuit against state regulators. The complaint focuses on the state’s up-and-coming seed-to-sale tracking system and the vendor chosen to design it.
In late 2020, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority announced the vendor for its seed-to-sale tracking system. It would require all marijuana businesses to buy a tag for each plant and product in its inventory.
The agency awarded the contract — worth about $15 million in fees — to Metrc, a private company that provides similar services in states that have legalized marijuana.
Ronald Durbin, a Tulsa-based attorney who represents cannabis businesses, filed a class action lawsuit against the marijuana regulatory agency on Thursday, arguing among other things that the agency doesn’t have legislative authority to implement the contract.
He said clients don’t oppose a seed-to-sale program. Many have already contracted out their own. They argue this version of the program is more costly to businesses, and that the agency granted the contract to a single out-of-state vendor.
The lawsuit, filed in Okmulgee County District Court, asks for a pause on the program.
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