Cleveland was concerned about criminal operations and fire hazards, to name a few issues that have come up in talks with other counties across the state.
“We need to get clarity on the county’s responsibility as to signing off on permitting, and what we can do to keep these things updated, such as a continual permit plus the permit fee.
“That has been the case of several ones where we find Chinese workers and Chinese ownership,” he said.
“We had one in Noble that was connected to a store in Moore last year called Ivy League,” Woodward said.
Unincorporated areas are attractive to cannabis farms and processing facilities, said James Fullingim, the state’s assistant fire marshal.
“We think a lot of them are getting around the system — not necessarily intentionally, but they are going to a county and the county doesn’t tell them to get a building permit,” Fullingim said.
“They’re in competition without thousands of criminals who are all trying to take advantage of Oklahoma’s cheaper licenses, cheaper land and looser laws,” Woodward said.
Nickey Ruth Ketner, 76, of Norman, died June 11, 2021.