Gies Law Firm

06/07/2023

A Comprehensive Guide to Oklahoma's new cannabis laws — Gies Law Firm

Oklahoma’s cannabis industry is under a magnifying glass. The Oklahoma legislature has passed a total of eight bills relating to cannabis this session, with the governor's signature now adorning seven of them.

From amplified fees to surety bonds and a myriad of other regulatory adjustments, this blog aims to delve into the transformative impact of these new laws and offer a comprehensive understanding of the evolving landscape.

Oklahoma's cannabis industry prepares for a transformative era with the passing of eight bills by the 59th Oklahoma legislature. Among them is an omnibus bill currently awaiting the Governor's signature.

04/18/2023

What to do if you receive an Emergency order of summary suspension from OMMA — Gies Law Firm

OMMA is suspending licenses left and right. Make sure you're staying compliant out there - and here's what to do if they hit you with an order.

The Oklahoma Medical Ma*****na Authority is suspending business licenses over failed inspections and immediate action is required to avoid permanent revocation.

03/30/2023

📣 Big last minute announcement! 📣

Mason Pain will be going live with from tomorrow at 1pm on our Instagram to discuss the cannabis legislation making its way through the legislature.

There will be time to ask questions during the live, so make sure you’re tuned in and ready!

03/30/2023

2023 Oklahoma Cannabis legislation update — Gies Law Firm

This is the full list of cannabis bills making their way through the legislature.

Brace for impact: 27 bills relating to Oklahoma’s medical ma*****na industry are making their way through the state legislature.

03/28/2023

There’s been a lot of movement with mmj bills over the past couple weeks. 27 cannabis related bills have passed in their house of origin.

Remember: Before a bill is sent to the governor for consideration (or being signed into law), it has to be approved by both the House and Senate.

All of these bills have been approved in either the House or Senate, but not yet both.

What bills are you most concerned with as a business owner / patient / person who cares about cannabis legislation? We’ll start to dive deeper as their road to becoming law narrows.

Note: For the sake of space, some bill descriptions may not cover the full scope of what the measure proposes.

03/19/2023

Love calling the Plaza District home.

Not your average law firm—the attorneys at Gies Law Firm have a unique and extensive history in cannabis law that makes them an invaluable asset to Oklahoma’s cannabis professionals, patients and more 🤘

Their office is located right next to Glass Bunker OKC in the Plaza!

03/03/2023

Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform put out a timely analysis of the impact of ma*****na prohibition in Oklahoma and the affect its had on hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma families.

Please consider these statistics, and these people, as you make your way to the polls. This is bigger than business.

The full report can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hqnrsX0ymMewqdksjhmftvphzO97ophw/view

02/28/2023

As seen on IG:

02/22/2023

What you should know about SQ 820 and Oklahoma’s legalization vote — Gies Law Firm

There's a lot of speculation about what happens after SQ 820. In our most recent blog we take a look at what 820 does for sure, explore some repeated concerns and offer some other considerations.

How do you feel about SQ 820 and the upcoming special election?

Oklahomans will vote on SQ 820 on March 7th. If passed, cannabis would be legal for adults 21 and older. Here's what you need to know.

02/10/2023

Today is the last day to register to vote in the March 7th election for SQ 820 if you haven't already! Find out your status here: https://okvoterportal.okelections.us/

02/07/2023

Four bills seek to modify Oklahoma tax law for cannabis businesses — Gies Law Firm

Cannabis businesses may soon be able to deduct expenses from Oklahoma taxable income, but some could lose existing exemptions.

02/06/2023

THC Potency limit bill threatens patient access to safe, effective medicine — Gies Law Firm

If SB 440 is passed, Oklahoma would be the first and only state to apply a THC potency limit to a medical ma*****na market.

If passed, SB 440 would remove patient access to essential high potency medical ma*****na products on the legal market.

01/26/2023

Happy birthday to one of the best cannabis attorneys in Oklahoma. He's just getting wiser, folks.

01/25/2023

To legalize or not to legalize? That is State Question 820.

The most recent issue of Oklahoma Gazette features an article from Ops and Marketing Director Mason Pain on the importance of SQ 820.

In less than 6 weeks Oklahoma voters will answer the question: To legalize or not to legalize?

After several years of delays, Oklahoma voters will now decide whether adults can purchase cannabis without a license.

01/20/2023

Oklahoma lawmakers, cannabis businesses want more ma*****na tracking options this year

A bill pre-filed in the Oklahoma senate would put an end to the Metrc monopoly talk that has filled our feeds for nearly two years.

Under SB 177, OMMA would be required to provide no less than 3 and no more than 5 seed-to-sale inventory tracking system options for licensees.

OMMA would select the tracking systems through a competitive bidding process pursuant to OK statutes. If passed, the act would become effective November 1st of this year.

The Oklahoman has a great piece out today on the bill.

"We have thousands of Oklahoma businesses that were damaged financially because of the inability of OMMA and Metrc to either communicate or get their act together." -Rep. Fetgatter

Dozens of bills were filed this week that could impact Oklahoma's medical ma*****na industry, including how state regulators track cannabis products.

01/16/2023

We’ve all heard the quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” but have you ever read the landmark letter that it came from in its entirety?

Letter from Birmingham Jail was penned by King after he was arrested for violating the anti-protest injunction in Birmingham, Alabama.

He wrote the following letter in response to a published condemnation from 8 white Alabama clergymen.

Dr. King was writing his response on the margins of newspapers until his personal attorney, Dr Clarence Jones began visiting him twice a day to bring him paper. Dr. Jones recalled, “I would take sheets from a yellow legal pad and stuff them into my shirt… Martin would then write like mad. Very hard to decipher. I’d sneak the pages out. He had confidence that I would get them to Willie Pearl Mackey (King’s secretary).” She was who eventually deciphered the letter and typed it up to be printed in several publications. It’s now arguably the most influential document of the civil rights movement.

Letter from Birmingham Jail is powerful, and sadly still immediately relevant today.

The story behind Letter from Birmingham Jail shows what it took and what it takes, the sacrifices made and the sacrifices we must still make in order to see King’s vision through.

The best way we can honor King’s legacy is to continue to move it forward, as he inspired, whether we fly, run, walk or crawl.

“We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom.”

We’ve all heard the quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” but have you ever read the landmark letter that it came from in its entirety?

Letter from Birmingham Jail was penned by King after he was arrested for violating the anti-protest injunction in Birmingham, Alabama.

He wrote the following letter in response to a published condemnation from 8 white Alabama clergymen.

Dr. King was writing his response on the margins of newspapers until his personal attorney, Dr Clarence Jones began visiting him twice a day to bring him paper. Dr. Jones recalled, “I would take sheets from a yellow legal pad and stuff them into my shirt… Martin would then write like mad. Very hard to decipher. I’d sneak the pages out. He had confidence that I would get them to Willie Pearl Mackey (King’s secretary).” She was who eventually deciphered the letter and typed it up to be printed in several publications. It’s now arguably the most influential document of the civil rights movement.

Letter from Birmingham Jail is powerful, and sadly still immediately relevant today.

The story behind Letter from Birmingham Jail shows what it took and what it takes, the sacrifices made and the sacrifices we must still make in order to see King’s vision through.

The best way we can honor King’s legacy is to continue to move it forward, as he inspired, whether we fly, run, walk or crawl.

“We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom.”

01/13/2023

Is Psilocybin legal in Oklahoma? — Gies Law Firm

If you have to ask...

Psilocybin remains illegal in the state of Oklahoma, but legislators are beginning to consider reform that would help us understand its benefits. Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic alkaloid found in certain mushrooms that grow naturally throughout North America. You may have heard about them as “magic

01/12/2023

Meet Mason Pain, aka Mase of Bass. OKC native, grown in McAlester now making magic happen for Gies Law Firm often from 800+ miles away. Mason was a theatre kid in college - he can play any role that’s needed. He built the website, manages marketing, designs the materials, answers the phones, assists with client and case management and clocked nearly 100 applications in 2022. If we had our own Golden Globes to give out we’d give one to him for his performance here at GLF.

Mason works from his heart and his passion for what we do here has inspired so much of what you all see from the outside.

He just had his 2 year anniversary with the firm at the beginning of this month and it’s his 35th birthday today. Join us in celebrating him and all he does.

Happy birthday, Mason!

01/09/2023

Study: 1 in 4 adults with chronic pain turning to cannabis

Have you turned to medical cannabis for pain relief?

More than a quarter of U.S. adults suffering from chronic pain have turned to using cannabis to manage their discomfort, according to a new study published in JAMA Open Network. Researchers at Mich…

01/09/2023

42022: Oklahoma Cannabis Year in Review — Gies Law Firm

2022 brought on regulatory changes and macro market conditions that challenged cannabis businesses and constricted growth, but Oklahoma remains positioned at the center of a rapidly growing industry and 2023 could bring the shift from survive to thrive with adult use legalization on the ballot.

Before we move too much further forward, let’s take a look back and send some gratitude to it all.

Whatever comes up this year in cannabis, Gies Law Firm is here and ready to guide you through it.

New regulatory measures and a licensing moratorium may have slowed things down in 2022, but the cannabis industry is poised for growth in 2023 and Oklahoma is at the center

01/06/2023

Busted: Famous People Arrested For Smoking Ma*****na (1949-1980) - Flashbak

Flashback Friday

Let's really make cannabis possession arrests a thing of the past this year.

I've trawled the archives for these pictures of famous faces who've been arrested for (alleged) cannabis possession

11/01/2022

New laws for Oklahoma cannabis industry go into effect November 1st — DG3 Law

Five new laws for the cannabis industry go into effect today. Here's what you need to know about them.

November 1st ushers in a new era for the Oklahoma Medical Ma*****na Authority and brings new requirements for cannabis business licensees

10/27/2022

What growers need to know about new signage requirements and sensitive crop registry — DG3 Law

New rules go into effect November 1st requiring medical ma*****na commercial grower licensees to display signage and register with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.

What you need to know 👇

New rules go into effect November 1st requiring medical ma*****na commercial grower licensees to display signage and register with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.

10/24/2022

Research: Does Cannabis Really Make You More Creative?

What do you think?

As more and more countries and states legalize recreational ma*****na use, organizations may increasingly find themselves tasked with understanding and addressing the impact of w**d in the workplace. In particular, many celebrities have suggested that cannabis has aided in their creative pursuits .....

10/19/2022

Thank you to Oklahoma City University School of Law for having us last week!

10/18/2022

Gov. Stitt issues executive proclamation, declaring special election for SQ 820

We've got ourselves a date! March 7, 2023 a statewide special election will be held to vote on SQ 820, Initiative Petition 434.

Governor Kevin Stitt issued an Executive Proclamation on Tuesday to declare a statewide special election in March for State Question 820 on March 7, 2023.

10/06/2022

Biden Announces Mass Ma*****na Pardons And Calls For Cannabis Scheduling Review - Ma*****na Moment

A change is gonna come

President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that he is taking dramatic steps to change federal ma*****na laws and provide relief to drug war victims—an unexpected development that comes roughly a month before the November election. The president is initiating an administrative review of federal mari...

09/30/2022

Congrats to the winners of our Billy Strings Insta giveaway! We look forward to dancing with y’all next month! If you’re not following us over there, that’s where we are most active with canna law updates and the occasional opportunity to win Billy Strings tickets or a new rig. See you over there? 👇

instagram.com/gieslawfirm

09/26/2022

Check out the feature on OK Cannabis Law from Donald Gies and Ameen Behbahani in Oklahoma City University School of Law's latest issue of In Brief.

Donald and Ameen got their J.D. from OCU Law in 2019 and 2020 respectively. We're honored to be featured and share these legal insights about Oklahoma's fastest growing industry.

09/22/2022

BUYER BEWARE: Do your due diligence before purchasing a Cannabis Business license — DG3 Law

Rushing into a cannabis business transaction without doing your due diligence could lead you straight to a dead end. If you're looking, make sure you're turning over every stone.

Acquiring an active OMMA business license comes with unique considerations to avoid legal consequences. What to look out for before buying a cannabis business license in Oklahoma

09/21/2022

Oklahomans won’t vote on recreational ma*****na this November

SQ 820 will not be on the November ballot.

After several legal battles State Question 820, the petition to legalize recreational ma*****na in Oklahoma will NOT be on the November ballot.

09/19/2022

There was a recall issued late Friday for 3 batches of Rove and Featured Farms 1g and disposable cartridges that named 109 parties.

If you’ve been named you have to participate in the recall whether you’ve sold the embargoed product or not. Failure to do so may result in the revocation of your business license.

If you have an LLC and/or have sold the product, you have to have an attorney represent you at the hearing scheduled for this Friday.

This is a rapid development, but we are ready to run it with you. Give us a call or DM if you need help - 405.281.0276.

09/14/2022

We had a special double-celebration going today at Gies Law Firm. It’s Ameen’s birthday and his two year anniversary of officially becoming an attorney, sworn in solo by Judge Lisa K. Hammond.

Ameen is a partner at Gies Law Firm. He’s our go to “Meen guy” for civil litigation. Certified mediator in Oklahoma and Texas, community advocate and dog dad.

Ameen makes being an attorney look good. I’m not just talking about the man’s swagger or the presence he can hold in the courtroom… what makes him really shine is that his tenacity and passion to go to work for his clients is coupled with an enormous heart and a genuine desire to understand and serve each person’s unique situation. Ameen is a former UH football player and four year letter-winner. He’s got a record of making what team he’s on his number priority and we are sure lucky to have him on ours.

Join us in celebrating Ameen and all he has accomplished since becoming an attorney. Happy birthday and happy anniversary, Ameen! We appreciate you so much.

09/12/2022

We're giving away 4 Billy Strings tickets for the OKC show in October over on our Instagram in case you'd like to a chance to see some of the best live music on the planet for free. instagram.com/gieslawfirm/

09/09/2022

Hot topic of the month: Can my employer discipline me for having a medical card or failing a drug test?

The answer is nuanced.

If you have a case, it has to be solid as it would require what’s called “proof by preponderance of the evidence…” Meaning you have to convince the fact finder there’s a 50%+ chance your claim is true… but if you can prove your employer willfully violated your patient rights, you could be awarded lost wages + additional equal amount as liquidated damages.

We can help.

Our latest blog explores this topic in depth: https://gieslawfirm.com/blog/medical-ma*****na-patient-employment-rights-in-oklahoma

09/05/2022

Meet Joseph Nett, C.P. aka the J.O.A.T - Joe of All Trades. MWC’s finest. This man has done and can do it all. He was a Marine Sergeant and MP. He’s a florist. He could fix your motorcycle, fence your grow and then take you through a pre-inspection compliance check in a single weekend… He just aced a 12 month Certified Paralegal course in 12 weeks teaching himself everything along the way. Joe’s experience is exemplary of his discipline and drive to master his work and what he’s passionate about. He goes the distance. He even wrote the game developer of NBA Jam when he thought something was unjust about DG3 goaltending to get clarity… we’ve got the response framed at our office as proof.

In the (almost) year since he’s joined us, he’s processed 100s of OMMA business applications, helped our clients trademark and secure true ownership of their creative property, and played an essential role in our success and ability to serve our clients with expediency and excellence.

Joe turns 30 today. Join us in celebrating him and all he does. Thanks for being, Joe! Happy birthday, brother!

📸:

09/02/2022

Pharmaceutical Industry Suffers Billions In Losses After States Legalize Ma*****na, New Study Finds - Ma*****na Moment

Have you noticed a new wave of re**er madness in the news cycle? It might be because medical cannabis legalization is costing big pharma billions...

“By expanding access and, thus use, legalization could permit cannabis to compete with conventional pharmaceuticals. Largely unpatentable, cannabis may act like a new generic entrant following medical legalization, leading some individuals to substitute away from other drugs toward cannabis. However, unlike a conventional new generic drug, cannabis use is not restricted to a single or limited set of conditions. This means that cannabis acts as a new entrant across many different drug markets simultaneously.”

The pharmaceutical industry takes a serious economic hit after states legalize ma*****na—with an average market loss of nearly $10 billion for drugmakers per each legalization event—according to a first-of-its-kind study. The peer-reviewed research article, published in the journal PLOS ONE on W...

09/01/2022

State question 820 received overwhelming support during the signature gathering period, but still faces an uphill battle on the way to the November ballot.

Our latest blog covers the distance on what's happened and what's yet to come. Read it here: https://gieslawfirm.com/blog/high-hopes-to-high-court-state-question-820-road-to-ballot