The Oklahoma State Department of Health voted at its meeting July 10 to ban sales of smokeable forms of medical marijuana and to require dispensaries to hire a pharmacist. [Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman Archives]

After dealing with months of scandal at the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the oversight board, whose nine appointed members are relatively unknown to the public, now finds itself under the hot light of controversy.

The state Board of Health voted 5-4 earlier this month to ban the sale of smokable marijuana, and 8-1 to require dispensaries to employ a pharmacist. The amendments drew public ire, a rebuke from the state's top lawyer, and two lawsuits. Some have called for board members to resign.

The controversy has erupted even as the Board of Health continues to oversee an agency mired in turmoil.

Since last fall, the Department of Health has been a revolving door of leadership. The turnover followed highly publicized cuts to staff, enforced furloughs and shuttered programs when some top officials in the Health Department claimed the agency faced a $30 million shortfall.