Businessowner says Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry can be fixed instead of abolished
Governor Kevin Stitt says he wants to abolish the state’s medical marijuana industry
Updated: 5:30 PM CST Feb 4, 2026
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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. Related Video Below: How could Oklahoma put medical marijuana back on the ballot for a vote of the people?”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.”For the medical marijuana industry to return to a vote, lawmakers would need to pass a legislative referendum—a joint resolution between the House and Senate. If it passes both chambers, it would then go to the secretary of state and eventually, Oklahoma voters. Video Below: Gov. Kevin Stitt calls for end to OSSAA and medical marijuana during State of the StateTop HeadlinesGet the Facts: What makes Greenland so valuable — and why President Trump is interestedOHP: At least 1 dead after crash shuts down part of I-240 in Oklahoma CityInvestigators find signs of forced entry at Savannah Guthrie’s mother’s homeSuspect arrested after leading Oklahoma City police on chase that ended in crash’We crushed it’: Midwest City strip mall swept up in multistate marijuana raid
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.
Related Video Below: How could Oklahoma put medical marijuana back on the ballot for a vote of the people?
“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.”
For the medical marijuana industry to return to a vote, lawmakers would need to pass a legislative referendum—a joint resolution between the House and Senate.
If it passes both chambers, it would then go to the secretary of state and eventually, Oklahoma voters.
Video Below: Gov. Kevin Stitt calls for end to OSSAA and medical marijuana during State of the State
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