Medical marijuana; requiring the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority Executive Advisory Council to hire Executive Director; allowing removal of Executive Director with cause. Effective date.

SB 1499 amends Oklahoma's medical marijuana law to change how the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority Executive Director is appointed and removed. The bill requires the Executive Advisory Council (not the Governor) to hire the Executive Director, who must report to the Council. It also specifies that the Director can only be removed "with cause," replacing the previous standard allowing removal without cause. This change directly affects the Authority's leadership structure and personnel management, while other provisions about enforcement, licensing, and staff qualifications remain unchanged.