Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is calling for the end of the state's medical marijuana industry, claiming it has become a front for criminal activity and is beyond fixing. During his State of the State address, Stitt said, "This industry is plagued by foreign criminal interests and bad actors, making it nearly impossible to rein in. We can't put a Band-Aid on a broken bone."
John Koumbis, owner of JKJ Processing, agrees there are bad actors but believes the industry can be fixed rather than abolished.
"We don't fix the problems by just doing away with a whole industry," Koumbis said. He expressed concern that shutting down the industry would force his 22 employees to find new jobs and push demand back to the black market. "If they get rid of this product, the black market is going to flourish," he said.
Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority Director Adria Berry responded to the governor's comments, stating, "I have a job to do. My team has a job to do that's in statute, so that's what we're focused on."
Read more at KOCO News 5
