Foreign land ownership, illegal marijuana a growing issue

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Foreign ownership of Oklahoma land continues to be an issue throughout the state and has led to a separate issue of illegal marijuana grows in Oklahoma.

Non-citizens have found loop holes in state’s federal laws, allowing them to purchase land.

This might lead some people to wonder how a foreigner could own U.S. land if they are not a citizen.

The Oklahoma constitution, article 22 section A reads, “No alien or person who is not a citizen of the United States shall acquire title to or own land in this state and the Legislature shall enact laws whereby all persons not citizens of the United States and their heirs, who may here after acquire real estate in this state by devise, descent, or otherwise, shall dispose of the same within five years upon condition of escheat or forfeiture to the State, this shall not apply to Indians born within the United States, nor to aliens or persons not citizens of the United States who may become bona fide residents of this state and this section shall not apply to lands now owned by aliens in this State.”

Although the constitution states no alien can own property within the U.S., some foreigners have been able to own and use the land just like any other citizen. Rep. Anthony Moore said this is an ongoing problem which needs to be fixed.

“It’s an administrative law where it’s difficult to prove the person is not a United States citizen. We don’t want to invade on our citizens and demand documents at any time. Anybody has to have probable cause. We need to learn how to put enforcements in place where we are being fair to people who are citizens of our state and also respecting those who aren’t,” Moore said. “When these people buy land there is nothing forcing them to verify citizenship and we have to learn how to enforce that. Most of them are paying with a bag full of cash without a realtor involved or a bank involved. The owner has to sign a deed but the buyer doesn’t.”

Former Weatherford Police Chief Larry Williams showed Weatherford Daily News City Editor Montgomery Malone some of the grow houses within the county. Within Custer County were about 10 locations between Clinton, Weatherford and Arapaho. Within those locations were multiple grow houses. Some locations having up to 20 different structures.

During the rise of the pork industry in 1998 the state halted growth with a moratorium of pork production plants because of sludge issues. Moore said it is unlikely the state would put a moratorium on the marijuana grow industry.

“Marijuana is something that just passed the will of the people. To put a moratorium on something more than 50% of our population voted on could be looked at as overstepping,” Moore said.