A. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority shall employ an Executive Director and other personnel as necessary to assist the Authority in carrying out its duties. The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Executive Director shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor and may be removed or replaced without cause. Compensation for the Executive Director shall be determined pursuant to Section 3601.2 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

B. The Authority shall not employ an individual if any of the following circumstances exist:

C. All officers and employees of the Authority shall be in the exempt unclassified service.

D. The Executive Director may delegate to any officer or employee of the Authority any of the powers of the Executive Director and may designate any officer or employee of the Authority to perform any of the duties of the Executive Director.

E. The Executive Director may promulgate rules governing the oversight and implementation of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act.

F. The Authority is hereby authorized to create employment positions necessary for the implementation of its obligations pursuant to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act including, but not limited to, investigators of the Authority and a director of enforcement. The Authority, the director of enforcement, the Executive Director, investigators of the Authority, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Attorney General shall have all the powers and authority of a peace officer of this state for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act and other laws pertaining to medical marijuana, rules promulgated by the Executive Director, or criminal laws of this state. These powers shall include but not be limited to:

G. All investigators of the Authority shall meet all training requirements and qualifications for peace officers as required by Section 3311 et seq. of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

H. During the course of an investigation, the Authority, as provided by subsection F of this section, may arrest a violator or suspected violator of any laws of this state committed in the presence of the Authority or upon the development of probable cause that such crime has been committed. The Authority as provided by subsection F of this section may, upon request of a sheriff or another peace officer of this state, or any political subdivision thereof, assist in the apprehension and arrest of a violator or suspected violator of any of the laws of this state.

I. The Executive Director may employ or contract with attorneys, as needed, to advise the Authority on all legal matters and to appear for and represent the Executive Director and the Authority in all administrative hearings and all litigation or other proceedings which may arise in the discharge of their duties. At the request of the Executive Director, such attorneys shall assist district attorneys in prosecuting charges of violators of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act or any other laws of this state that carry criminal penalty involving crimes discovered during the investigation of violations or suspected violations of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act or other laws pertaining to medical marijuana or any rules promulgated pursuant thereto.