Oklahoma is facing a mounting public safety and environmental crisis as thousands of abandoned marijuana grow operations plague the state. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) testified at the state capitol, highlighting the urgent need for a solution to the growing problem.
Since 2022, over 6,000 marijuana grows have either been abandoned or shut down, leaving behind a trail of hazardous conditions.
"I think there might be a number of entities and partners that have a stake in that," stated one OBN agent during testimony, emphasizing the jurisdictional challenges. "I don't think anyone had in their wheelhouse what the solution for abandoned grows would be... because no one ever had that responsibility attached to them."
The lack of clear jurisdiction has hampered cleanup efforts, leaving these sites as ongoing threats to public health and the environment. Lawmakers are now hoping to pass legislation in the upcoming session that would hold landowners accountable for the cleanup of these abandoned operations. The proposed solution aims to provide a clear framework for remediation and prevent further proliferation of these hazardous sites across Oklahoma.
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