A bill to keep marijuana grow operations away from religious institutions has cleared the Senate and is headed to the Oklahoma House of Representatives where Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, is the principal author.

Senate Bill 116, authored by Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, would create a 1,000 feet setback requirement from any place of worship for medical marijuana commercial grower facilities. The measure was approved by the Senate on Tuesday.

“Given that we now have more grows than churches in our state, it’s important that we extend the same protections to them as our schools. We need to make sure grow operations stay in more industrial and business areas where the fumes won’t bother nearby citizens,” Bullard said in a news release.

Under current law, dispensaries and grows are already prohibited from being within 1,000 feet of schools. Those facilities already licensed and located within 1,000 feet of a church or the future location of one will not be barred from license renewal.

According to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA), there are currently 6,975 grows throughout the state – a number that changes regularly. While there is no official calculation, it’s estimated that there are nearly 6,900 churches in the state.

On Monday, the full Senate approved legislation to address environmental concerns related to marijuana grows. Sen. Joe Newhouse, R- Tulsa, is the author of Senate Bill 808, which authorizes the executive director of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to order licensees to cease and desist operations if the director finds that an environmental emergency exists.

“Oklahomans are fed up with the bad actors in the marijuana industry, many of whom are here illegally and flaunting our laws, and damaging our environment,” Newhouse said. “Through intentional neglect and refusal to clean up contaminants, run-off, and even human waste, some grows have demonstrated a total lack of stewardship, and they need to be stopped.”

SB 808 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, is the principal House author.