Lost in the drama building up to the June 26th state election, is the fact that not all factions of the 57% who voted in favor of cannabis medicines want the same outcomes. There has been a quiet group of financial investors gathering together to jump at a new industry and the potential to become major players in the role of providing the product. Enter Bud Scott. Robert 'Bud' Scott has been doing lobbying work for a collection of clients and has been successful in killing some state questions. Most recently he and his team defeated a farming initiative to fight growing regulations by the EPA. SQ777 was defeated by Bud and his team. Now Bud wants to change the new cannabis law in some fundamental ways and the vast vocal majority of proponents are irate with him. Several other Oklahoma businessmen formed a separate trade association and they're opposing the harsh restrictions which Bud Scott's 'New Health Solutions Oklahoma' are attempting. |
This encroachment alone has resulting social media outrage at Mr. Scott, & his trade group. Robert 'Bud' Scott is the brother of a former Democrat state Representative from the Tulsa area (Seneca Scott).
Rep. Collin Walke(D-OKC) is also 'beating the special session drum' along with Bud Scott. But Walke goes even further in detailing the motive. Walke says that allowing the seriously ill to cultivate a few plants for personal medical care, will weaken the market and suppress the prices, making it less lucrative for the corporate dispensaries.
We're not used to seeing Democrat populists advocate for govt. price supports going to corporate monopolies. But if campaign contributions were going to certain political campaigns, then that narrative is entirely plausible. We need look no farther back than last April's wind industry corporate welfare votes to see how Democrat Politicians will embrace wealthy corporate interests if the money is spread around generously. Medical researcher, Chip Paul (founder of GnuPharma) formed a competing trade group called Oklahoma Cannabis Trade Association. Paul says that the State Health Dept. has been very receptive and appears to have a very sensible framework nearing completion. Libertarians and Conservative Republicans insist that the home cultivation language in SQ788 is essential to keeping prices well regulated and dissuades political pressure from mounting toward medicaid funding of Cannabis medicines. Even a physically limited adult can still care for a few houseplants and avoid spending any of their pension or disability benefits at dispensaries. One conservative leader said; "We must always favor empowerment for the people, rather than yet another entitlement paid for by the rest of the taxpayers." |