The working group held 13 meetings last summer and fall, hearing from activists, law enforcement, banking and tax officials, business leaders and medical industry professionals.

Opposition to the effort came largely from Rep. Shane Stone, D-Oklahoma City, who said he believed the effort “fell short” of upholding the will of voters who supported State Question 788 in June. Stone, one of the few “no” votes, said he was concerned the bill could give landlords the ability to discriminate against tenants who have medical marijuana licenses and wish to grow cannabis at their residences.

“There’s nothing in this bill that respects the rights of patients specifically as it pertains to medical marijuana. Is that correct?” he asked. The bill would require tenants to have written permission from landlords to grow on properties.

Fetgatter later said, “I think the landlord owns the property and that’s the property right issue for me.”

Stone also asked why, given obvious conflicts with federal drug and firearms laws, the bill has specific language enabling licensed patients to legally carry guns. Echols said last year that he would support legislation upholding the gun rights of patients, and Fetgatter said it was one of the largest concerns he heard in the bill creation process.