Oklahoma and Marijuana: A Community Forum

In 2018 Leslie Osborn was elected State Labor Commissioner.  Prior to that she served ten years in the OK House of Representatives for District 47.  During her time there she was the first female to chair the Judiciary committee of the House, and in December of 2016 she was named the first Republican female chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee.  During her tenure she authored landmark workers compensation reform and passed into law the first Pay for Success contract in Oklahoma, which was a public-private partnership with the Department of Corrections and the Kaiser Foundation to move women from incarceration to the Women in Recovery Program.

Osborn received a B.S. in business administration from Oklahoma State University and resides in Mustang, Oklahoma. Leslie owned and operated her own business for 22 years selling heavy duty truck parts, Osborn Pick-Up Accessories, and is the mother of two children.

Osborn serves on the advisory board of OK Small Business Development Centers, the Oklahoma Academy, THRIVE to prevent teen pregnancy, and the Canadian Valley Technology Center Foundation.  She was in Leadership OK Class 27 and served as the state director of the national group Women in Government.

Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton began his law enforcement career in 1980 as a patrolman for the Tulsa Police Department. Before entering into law enforcement, Walton completed his education and earned an Associates Degree at Rogers State University (then known as Claremore Junior College) and went on to attend Northeastern State University to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Business.

With the massive amount of knowledge of departmental operations, Walton was assigned to be the public face of the Tulsa Police Department when he was assigned to the Headquarters Division of the TPD to serve as the Public Information Officer. He also became the coordinator of the Citizen’s Crime Commission where he coordinated with the public, the press, and the numerous organizations that comprise the spirit of cooperation with the police. It was during his service in the Headquarters Division that Walton was able to fully see the power of partnerships between the public, local businesses, the media and law enforcement.

In 2008 Scott Walton decided to bring the lessons he had learned home with him and entered the upcoming sheriff election in Rogers County. In November, 2008 Scott Walton won the election and earned the title of Rogers County Sheriff.

Chip Paul is a seasoned and experienced business professional with a proven track record of successes and achievements. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Mathematics, Chip began his corporate career at Southwestern Bell, and later with Phillips Petroleum Company, then followed by an executive level position with Williams Communication. Chip’s entrepreneurial career includes startup’s in retail, healthcare, and natural products. In late 2013 Chip and his wife Cynthia sold their startup homecare business and launched the first brick and mortar retail e-cigarette franchise, Palm Beach Vapors. The company was featured in Entrepreneur Magazine in the February 2015 issue.

The couple also founded and launched a 501c4 non-profit called Oklahomans For Health which is the founder and leader of the medical marijuana initiatives in Oklahoma. Chip authored State Question 788 which went on to become Oklahoma’s Medical Marijuana law and has been deeply involved with State lawmakers to build the regulations under the law.

Travis Kirkpatrick is a Public Administration professional with more than 15 years of service to the State of Oklahoma. He brings a multitude of experience in bureaucratic process gained via his roles in several state agencies.

Currently, Kirkpatrick serves as the Interim Director of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and the Director of the Office of Accountability Systems for the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

A native Oklahoman, Kirkpatrick holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Oklahoma. In his spare time, he volunteers on several community non-profit boards and enjoys watching his children play soccer.