The owner of a medical marijuana dispensary in Moore has filed a lawsuit claiming hundreds of enforcement actions taken by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority should be invalidated because the executive director doesn’t have the qualifications legally required to run the agency.Darrell Carnes, owner of the Mary Jane Dispensary, says Adria Berry does not have the required state certification as a peace officer. His lawsuit filed with the Oklahoma Supreme Court asks the justices to issue a writ ordering Gov. Kevin Stitt to remove her from the post.The court has given Stitt until Sept. 6 to respond. An oral presentation before a court referee is set for Sept. 19.A spokesperson for the governor said Friday, “Director Berry was confirmed by the Senate and there is no stipulation that the director must be CLEET certified.”
Berry was confirmed by the state Senate in May and is the first to run the authority as an independent agency. She also served as the executive director when it was still part of the Oklahoma Health Department. Before that, she served on Stitt’s staff.According to the lawsuit, filed in late July, provisions in state law say the executive director shall have all the powers of any peace officer, but that she does not have the training and certification required under the rules overseen by the Council on Law Enforcement Training and Education (CLEET).“As Executive Director, Berry played a significant role in shutting down hundreds of businesses and rejecting numerous license applications and renewals, all without the proper authority required under the statute,” the lawsuit states. “As such, Berry’s conduct has never been in compliance with the statute and is therefore a continuing violation.”
Adria Ground Berry was an attorney in Texas however her BAR license is not currently active there, and does remain licensed in Oklahoma.
She has a background for representing energy companies in Houston, Texas and still advises Big Oil and Gas in Oklahoma.
Who’s interest does she represent, the patients of Oklahoma’s Medical Cannabis Program or the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma?
According to Bard: The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma is a trade association that represents the oil and natural gas industry in the state. It is not owned by any individual or company. Instead, it is owned by its members, who are oil and natural gas producers, service companies, and other businesses that support the industry.
The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma is governed by a board of directors, which is made up of representatives from its member companies. The board is responsible for setting the association’s policies and priorities.
The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma provides a variety of services to its members, including:
- Advocacy on behalf of the oil and natural gas industry
- Education and training programs
- Networking opportunities
- Market research
- Public relations
The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma is a major force in the Oklahoma oil and natural gas industry. It plays an important role in representing the interests of the industry to government officials and the public.
According to the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma’s website, the largest oil producer in Oklahoma is Continental Resources. Continental is based in Oklahoma City and is the largest leaseholder and producer in the nation’s premier oil field, the Bakken play of North Dakota and Montana.
Other major oil producers in Oklahoma include:
- Devon Energy
- Chesapeake Energy
- EOG Resources
- ONEOK
- Sandridge Energy
The oil and natural gas industry is a major economic driver in Oklahoma. It provides jobs for thousands of Oklahomans and generates billions of dollars in revenue for the state. The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma plays an important role in supporting the oil and natural gas industry and promoting its economic benefits for Oklahoma.