Latest news with #ORCA
Yahoo
13-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump weighs marijuana reclassification as Oklahoma eyes recreational legalization
President Donald Trump said his administration is weighing whether to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. This move could mark the most significant federal shift in cannabis policy in half a century. "We're looking at reclassification and we'll make a determination over the next few weeks," Trump said at an Aug. 11 news conference. The federal government lists marijuana alongside heroin and LSD as a Schedule I drug — the category reserved for substances deemed highly dangerous, addictive and without medical value. Reclassifying it to Schedule III, as recommended by federal health officials in 2023, would put marijuana in the same legal tier as Tylenol with codeine and anabolic steroids, allowing it to be prescribed by licensed medical providers and dispensed by pharmacies. It would not, however, legalize recreational use under federal law. What a federal shift could mean for Oklahoma Oklahoma legalized medical marijuana in 2018 and more than 2,000 dispensaries now operate statewide. But under current law, adults can only purchase cannabis with a medical patient license. That could change if voters approve State Question 837, which would legalize recreational sales for adults 21 and older. The measure cleared a major procedural hurdle in July and organizers have already started gathering signatures. Organizers have until Nov. 4 to collect at least 172,993 valid signatures to get on the ballot in 2026. If Trump reclassifies marijuana to Schedule III, Oklahoma's medical marijuana market — already among the largest per capita in the nation — could see smoother banking operations, lower compliance risks for dispensaries and broader medical research opportunities. But the move would do nothing to authorize recreational sales in the state; that decision would still rest entirely with Oklahoma voters. The push for SQ 837 Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action (ORCA), the group behind SQ 837, is betting that public sentiment has shifted since voters rejected a similar measure, State Question 820, in 2023 by a 61% margin. This time, ORCA is pursuing a constitutional amendment, making it harder for lawmakers to alter or repeal the law without another statewide vote. The proposal would tax recreational sales at 10% while preserving the medical system and exempting licensed patients from the new tax. The campaign faces new hurdles, including a 2025 state law limiting how many petition signatures can come from a single county. That means ORCA can't rely solely on the city center like Tulsa or Oklahoma City for signatures and will have to fan out into rural areas — such as Harmon County, where just 117 residents will be allowed to sign. "Maybe we'll go and hang out at the co-op for a day or go to the county courthouse," ORCA Director Jed Green said. "Voters of Harmon County — get ready, we'll come out and visit." Open primary supporters have challenged Senate Bill 1027 in the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which has not yet issued a ruling. The bigger picture Trump's comments come after years of fits and starts on federal marijuana policy. President Joe Biden initiated the reclassification review in 2022, and federal health officials recommended the downgrade in 2023. The Drug Enforcement Administration proposed a rule change in 2024, but the process stalled after Trump returned to the White House in January. Terrance Cole, Trump's newly confirmed DEA administrator, has said reviewing marijuana's classification will be one of his first priorities, though he has not signaled whether he supports the change. Trump said the decision is complicated, weighing the benefits of marijuana use for medical reasons against potential societal impacts. "Some people like it, some people hate it," he said. "Some people hate the whole concept of marijuana." If the administration follows through, Oklahoma's cannabis industry could get a boost in legitimacy and access to services — but recreational marijuana will still live or die by the state's ballot box. This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Trump considers marijuana shift; Oklahoma advances recreational use Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hyperscience Recognized on the 2025 Inc. 5000 List of Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America
Groundbreaking AI and ML models and explosive demand for its Intelligent Document Processing platform across public and private sectors propel the company forward NEW YORK, August 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hyperscience, a market leader in hyperautomation and a provider of enterprise AI infrastructure software, today announced its inclusion on the prestigious 2025 Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies. The company's proven success in delivering operational efficiencies across numerous verticals has earned it a spot on the list for the first time. This placement comes on the heels of a breakout year marked by the release of the company's Optical Reasoning and Cognition Agent (ORCA), its next-generation Vision-Language Model (VLM), and rapid adoption of its platform across government agencies, global enterprises, and regulated industries. "Being recognized on the Inc. 5000 list for the first time reflects the years of hard work and commitment of our teams, and is a testament to our achievements in leading the charge for intelligent automation," said Andrew Joiner, CEO of Hyperscience. "At Hyperscience, we're not just building AI, we're reshaping how the world works with information. This placement reinforces our mission to deliver AI that understands, empowers, and accelerates outcomes for organizations everywhere." Hyperscience transforms organizations everywhere with a turnkey AI platform that accelerates the processing of documents and forms that flow through an enterprise's back office. Designed with a "human-in-the-loop" approach, this platform leverages the strengths of both humans and machines. Hyperscience comprehensively manages data from input to extraction, orchestrating end-to-end processes. With industry-leading accuracy (99.5 percent) and automation (98 percent), Hyperscience automates tedious tasks, enabling workforces to spend their time on higher-level projects. The Inc. 5000 list, compiled annually by Inc. magazine, ranks the 5000 fastest-growing private companies in the United States based on revenue growth over the past three years. Making the Inc. 5000 is a significant achievement that places Hyperscience among the most dynamic and successful businesses in the country. For the full list, company profiles, and a searchable database by industry and location, visit: About Hyperscience Hyperscience is a market leader in hyperautomation and a provider of enterprise AI infrastructure software. The Hyperscience Hypercell platform unlocks the value of an organization's back office data through the automation of end-to-end processes, and transforms complex documents into LLM and RAG-ready data to power new enterprise GenAI experiences. This enables organizations to transform manual, siloed processes into a strategic advantage, resulting in a faster path to decisions, actions, and revenue; positive and engaging customer, public, and patient experiences; and dramatic increases in productivity. Leading organizations across the globe rely on Hyperscience to drive their hyperautomation initiatives, including American Express, Charles Schwab, HM Revenue and Customs, Mars, Stryker, The United States Social Security Administration, and The United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The company is funded by top tier investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, Battery, FirstMark, Stripes, and Tiger Global. View source version on Contacts Media Jyotsna (415) 917-7411 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
12-08-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Hyperscience Recognized on the 2025 Inc. 5000 List of Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hyperscience, a market leader in hyperautomation and a provider of enterprise AI infrastructure software, today announced its inclusion on the prestigious 2025 Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies. The company's proven success in delivering operational efficiencies across numerous verticals has earned it a spot on the list for the first time. This placement comes on the heels of a breakout year marked by the release of the company's Optical Reasoning and Cognition Agent (ORCA), its next-generation Vision-Language Model (VLM), and rapid adoption of its platform across government agencies, global enterprises, and regulated industries. 'Being recognized on the Inc. 5000 list for the first time reflects the years of hard work and commitment of our teams, and is a testament to our achievements in leading the charge for intelligent automation,' said Andrew Joiner, CEO of Hyperscience. 'At Hyperscience, we're not just building AI, we're reshaping how the world works with information. This placement reinforces our mission to deliver AI that understands, empowers, and accelerates outcomes for organizations everywhere.' Hyperscience transforms organizations everywhere with a turnkey AI platform that accelerates the processing of documents and forms that flow through an enterprise's back office. Designed with a 'human-in-the-loop' approach, this platform leverages the strengths of both humans and machines. Hyperscience comprehensively manages data from input to extraction, orchestrating end-to-end processes. With industry-leading accuracy (99.5 percent) and automation (98 percent), Hyperscience automates tedious tasks, enabling workforces to spend their time on higher-level projects. The Inc. 5000 list, compiled annually by Inc. magazine, ranks the 5000 fastest-growing private companies in the United States based on revenue growth over the past three years. Making the Inc. 5000 is a significant achievement that places Hyperscience among the most dynamic and successful businesses in the country. For the full list, company profiles, and a searchable database by industry and location, visit: About Hyperscience Hyperscience is a market leader in hyperautomation and a provider of enterprise AI infrastructure software. The Hyperscience Hypercell platform unlocks the value of an organization's back office data through the automation of end-to-end processes, and transforms complex documents into LLM and RAG-ready data to power new enterprise GenAI experiences. This enables organizations to transform manual, siloed processes into a strategic advantage, resulting in a faster path to decisions, actions, and revenue; positive and engaging customer, public, and patient experiences; and dramatic increases in productivity. Leading organizations across the globe rely on Hyperscience to drive their hyperautomation initiatives, including American Express, Charles Schwab, HM Revenue and Customs, Mars, Stryker, The United States Social Security Administration, and The United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The company is funded by top tier investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, Battery, FirstMark, Stripes, and Tiger Global.
Forbes
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Oklahoma Group Launches New Recreational Cannabis Legalization Bid
An Oklahoma cannabis policy reform advocacy group this week began collecting signatures in support of a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational cannabis in the Sooner State. Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action (ORCA) began circulating petitions on Wednesday, with plans to qualify the proposed constitutional amendment for the ballot for the 2026 general election. To qualify for the ballot, ORCA must submit valid signatures from at least 172,993 registered Oklahoma voters. If passed, the measure (State Question 837) would amend the Oklahoma Constitution to legalize the possession and use of marijuana for all adults aged 21 and older. 'It does open up access to more people who might not have the money to get their medical card,' Breanna McClaine, manager of Rainforest Cannabis dispensary in Ardmore, Oklahoma, told KTEN television news. 'Whenever used in an appropriate manner, that it is a very good drug to use to help with mental health and even like your physical health.' Activists Share Strategy For Collecting Signatures ORCA filed the marijuana legalization initiative with state election officials in April. Jed Green, founder of OCRA, said the legalization campaign has developed a plan to reach the number of signatures needed to qualify the marijuana legalization proposal for the ballot. 'I feel pretty good. The strategy is pretty straightforward. At this point, we've managed to secure somewhere between 250 and 300 retail locations across the state—a lot of dispensaries, but also a lot of other allied locations' to keep initiative petitions on-site for voters to sign, Green told Marijuana Moment on Monday, according to a report from the online cannabis news outlet. 'That number does continue to grow daily.' 'What we are focused on right now is making sure as many of those retail locations have all got signature packets here this week—and so all the printing has gone on, all of that assemblies are going and we're starting to pump those into the distribution network,' Green added. With the signature-gathering infrastructure set in retail shops, ORCA plans to focus next on rural areas so they can be monitored as a benchmark for progress. The campaign will then concentrate on large cities such as Tulsa and Oklahoma City. 'Then on top of that, it's a great time of the year for canvassing at public events. We've got home football games, fairs, a ton of public events going on and concerts in the fall,' Green said. 'Step one is to make sure that we've got good retail access, and then, after that, the more traditional signature gathering.' Legalizing Recreational Cannabis Failed In 2023 The new effort to legalize recreational cannabis in Oklahoma comes just over two years after voters rejected a similar proposal in March 2023. More than 61% of the electorate voted against Question 820 that year, although a proposal to legalize medical cannabis was passed by 57% of voters in 2018. Green said that one of the primary differences between this year's recreational cannabis legalization initiative and State Question 820 is tighter licensing rules for cannabis businesses. Opponents of the state's legalization of medical cannabis have said that lax licensing requirements led to a proliferation of weed businesses across the state. Can Recreational Weed Legalization Pass In Oklahoma? Sara Gullickson, CEO of consulting firm The Cannabis Business Advisors, says that she believes State Question 837 has a good chance of succeeding at the polls. 'The energy behind Oklahoma's latest adult-use cannabis initiative is exactly what this industry needs,' Gullickson writes in an email. 'With hundreds of medical dispensaries stepping up to support signature gathering, it's clear the local cannabis community is united and motivated. This grassroots momentum gives me confidence that this proposal will pass.' Pat McFerron, who led the campaign against the 2023 recreational marijuana legalization bid, noted that it failed in all of Oklahoma's 77 counties. 'I think most Oklahomans believe the current system we have is de facto recreational,' McFerron told Oklahoma Voice. 'The barrier is so miniscule, so I see no desire among the public to make it even easier to buy cannabis.'
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Campaign to legalize cannabis in Oklahoma will start collecting signatures in August
The latest effort to relax marijuana laws in Oklahoma has passed a critical procedural hurdle, and the campaign will begin collecting signatures to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. State Question 837 would ask voters to let adults 21 years of age or older buy marijuana without a medical marijuana license. Registered Oklahoma voters can begin signing the petition when it goes live on Aug. 6. Signatures must be turned in to the state by Nov. 4. Current state law only allows residents to purchase and possess marijuana if they have a medical marijuana patient license. If the state question becomes law, anyone could walk into a dispensary and make a purchase if they are at least 21 years old. Adults under 21 would need a medical marijuana license from the state to purchase cannabis under the proposed framework. Cannabis petition cleared to collect signatures The organizer of the SQ 837 campaign is Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action (ORCA). The group recently got confirmation from the Oklahoma secretary of state's office that there were no constitutional challenges to the petition. After a state question is first presented to officials, Oklahoma law gives residents 90 days to challenge it on constitutional grounds. Because there was no challenge, ORCA can begin collecting the required number of signatures to put it in front of voters. "Our group's already kind of a statewide organization, so we've been working on getting everyone rowing in the same direction," said ORCA Director Jed Green. If the signature-gathering campaign is successful, SQ 837 could appear on the ballot as early as June 2026 or as late as November that same year during the statewide general election. Supporters will have to gather at least 172,993 verified signatures of registered Oklahoma voters to place it on the ballot. This signature-gathering campaign will be more difficult than others in previous years, however. During the 2025 legislative session, state lawmakers approved a law that limits the number of initiative petition signatures that can be collected from a single county. Senate Bill 1027 has since been challenged in the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which has not yet issued a ruling. "We don't have a lot of concern as a grassroots organization complying with some of the aspects of 1027," Green told The Oklahoman. "We've already got folks on the ground in 55 counties right now. We've got over 300 retail businesses already signed up to help us circulate." Green said this is the best time of year for signature gathering because of all the high-turnout events across Oklahoma like fairs and sporting events. The new signature requirements, however, will force ORCA to rely more on support in smaller, more rural counties. That includes Harmon County in far southwestern Oklahoma, where Green said he can only sign up a few dozen voters before reaching the limit. "Maybe we'll go and hang out at the co-op for a day or go to the county courthouse, I don't know," he said. "Voters of Harmon County, only 117 of you are allowed to sign this so get ready, we'll come out and visit." What does Oklahoma's State Question 837 do? If it becomes part of Oklahoma's Constitution, SQ 837 would open marijuana sales to any adult who is at least 21 years old, regardless of their medical status or state of residence. These purchases would be taxed at 10%, along with the usual state, county or local sales taxes. The amendment wouldn't abolish the medical marijuana system, however. People who keep their medical patient status would be exempt from paying the 10% marijuana excise tax, which is currently set at 7%. The amendment also would ensure that law enforcement cannot presume someone's impairment or intoxication based solely on the use of marijuana or presence of THC in their system. Sales to the public would begin 60 days after passage, and home delivery would be authorized after six months. Oklahoma has considered 'recreational' marijuana before In 2023, voters rejected State Question 820, which would have created a separate recreational marijuana market for licensed adults who are at least 21 years old. Over 61% of voters rejected the proposal, which was criticized by some law enforcement, religious leaders and public school administrators in the closing weeks of the campaign as a step too far. ORCA, the organizer of SQ 837, opposed that earlier campaign because of what Green described as a faulty framework that could be easily altered or even reversed by state lawmakers during a legislative session. Because SQ 837 would be written into the Oklahoma Constitution, any further changes would be much more difficult without another statewide vote. Oklahoma voters first approved medical marijuana in 2018. Marijuana's legal status could change on the federal level, too. In 2022, President Joe Biden triggered a review of marijuana's classification as a controlled drug. Two top agencies eventually recommended it be reclassified from Schedule I to Schedule III, but the process was temporarily halted when Donald Trump returned to the White House. Trump has previously indicated support for looser marijuana laws in his home state of Florida, but the issue hasn't been a federal priority during his first six months in office. His pick to lead the Drug Enforcement Agency, however, was only confirmed July 22. New DEA Administrator Terrance Cole has said one of his first priorities would be to review marijuana's reclassification, although he did not indicate which way he would lean. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Campaign to legalize recreational marijuana in Oklahoma advances Solve the daily Crossword
