Accept it! It’s Reefer Crazy! Voters in Oklahoma will decide next week on State Question 820, which seeks to legalize marijuana for adult use outside of the state’s traditional racial and religious boundaries.
A proposal to legalize marijuana for adults along with changes to the criminal justice system to expunge minor marijuana convictions is gaining support.
Critics of the 2018 medical marijuana law change said the state hadn’t done enough to prepare for the unanticipated implications of the law’s adoption. On Thursday and Friday, March 1-2, before the actual election on March 7, early voting will be held. Since State Question 723 in September 2005, no voters in the state have been presented with a ballot question outside of a primary or general election.
There is only SQ 820 on the ballot and no statewide candidates, therefore turnout for this election is anyone’s guess. Medicinal marijuana, or State Question 788, was passed by Oklahoma voters. In the same election in June 2018 in which the Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian parties all had competitive primaries for governor, this occurred.
Over 893,000 voters participated in the primary election by voting on Question 788’s medical marijuana provision. According to the state Election Board, about 20,000 voters cast ballots exclusively for SQ 788. In 2018, voters across the political spectrum came out in support of medical marijuana, helping it pass with 57% of the vote.
Law enforcement and certain medical groups also voiced opposition to the measure, which was already unpopular in many rural western and southern counties. The proponents of SQ 820 are banking on voters’ willingness to establish a legal consumer market this year, despite the fact that it comes with compromises.
such as higher taxes than the medical market but no patient registration requirements with the government. That would pique the interest of Oklahomans who want less government and lure tourists from places where marijuana is illegal.
The annual increase in tax revenue from the passage of SQ 820 is anticipated to be $87 million from 2019 to 2028, according to an economic impact report published by proponents. Yes 820’s campaign director, Michelle Tilley, argued that if the measure were to pass, it would stimulate the economy and free up police resources to go after more serious drug offenses.
“We have given the state Legislature the power to make it better,” Tilley said at a February debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters in Tulsa. Other opponents have used high-profile crimes and busts involving illegal marijuana gardens across the state as part of their campaign against legalization.
Several Christian churches, medical organizations, and public health agencies have all spoken out against the ballot proposition. Republicans Kevin Stitt (governor) and Gentner Drummond (attorney general) have publicly stated their opposition to SQ 820. While some argue that the impacts of past marijuana convictions need to be addressed, others argue that legalization isn’t the solution.
Although having previously fought against criminal justice reform attempts, they now say the legislature should focus on those specific areas. “Why do you want to equate it with a chemical that creates so much damage, especially with children,”
Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said during a League of Women Voters discussion in Tulsa in February. The following is a compilation of Oklahoma Watch’s interviews, studies, and public remarks from both proponents and detractors.
Would the Passage of Sq 820 Affect the Existing Medical Marijuana Program Approved by Voters in June 2018?
No. It is the sole responsibility of the legislature to make any adjustments to the healthcare system. This year, lawmakers will likely consider dozens of proposals related to the program.
How Have Recent Statewide Elections for Adult-Use Cannabis Fared?
The outcomes of recent elections in other states have been mixed. Voters in Missouri and Maryland legalized recreational marijuana use in November, but voters in North Dakota and South Dakota rejected the measure.
Who Would Regulate the Adult-Use Market for Cannabis if Sq 820 Passes?
The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority was established as a separate entity on November 1 and is now in charge of regulating the commercial recreational marijuana industry in the state. If SQ 820 is approved, business organizations have discussed petitioning the state legislature to rebrand the organization.
To begin with, the state question only allows applicants who already have a medical marijuana business license and have been in operation for at least a year prior to the implementation of SQ 820 to apply for recreational marijuana business licenses. The two-year moratorium on openings would be in effect. For the adult-use market, the maximum amount that could be charged for a commercial license or renewal would be $2,000.
How Long Would Omma Have to Put Rules and Regulations from Sq 820 Into Effect?
The deadline would be September 3; this would be 90 days after the law went into effect on June 5.
What Are the Personal-Use Protections Under Sq 820?
Anyone over the age of 21 can legally possess up to an ounce (28 grams) of marijuana, 8 grams of concentrated marijuana, or 8 grams of marijuana-infused or edible items. In addition, people are permitted to cultivate up to six mature marijuana plants and six marijuana seedlings at home, provided that they are hidden from view.
What Does One Ounce of Marijuana Look Like?
This is because the density of the blossom makes it impossible to tell without a scale. An ounce of marijuana is roughly equal to the amount that can be stored in a plastic sandwich bag. Concentrated marijuana can be purchased as a liquid, solid chunk, or sticky goo.
What Would SQ 820 Do to Address Past Marijuana-Related Crimes?
The initiative on the ballot establishes procedures for revoking, resentencing or expunging previous marijuana convictions. This type of expungement requires the approval of the court system unless there is a significant threat to public safety. Proponents of SQ 820 argued that, for decades, law enforcement’s focus on marijuana has unfairly targeted people of color and people living in rural areas.
The ability to rent or buy a home, apply for a job, or acquire a student loan is negatively impacted for between 50,000 and 100,000 Oklahoma residents due to prior marijuana convictions. They reported that the rate of unemployment among ex-convicts in Oklahoma was five times higher than the general rate of unemployment in the state.
What Are the Penalties for Violating the Personal-Use Provisions Under SQ 820?
Possessing vegetation in plain sight of the general public would result in a civil fine of $250 or less. A civil punishment of $25 or less would be imposed for using a marijuana-containing vaporizer or smoking marijuana in a public location where doing so is prohibited.
Anyone who smoked or vaped in public would not be subject to detention or arrest by law authorities. No landlord has the right to forbid their tenants from consuming or possessing marijuana, although they can restrict its use in the form of smoke.
Civil penalties of up to $200 and product confiscation may be levied against adults over the age of 21 who possess, produce, or transport twice the personal use limitations. The required eight hours of drug education or counseling could be substituted for the monetary penalty.
What Are the Punishments for Underage Age Use or Possession of Cannabis Under SQ 820?
Marijuana would be confiscated and a fine of $100 or less imposed by a civil court. If the offender attends drug counseling or education for four hours, the fine may be suspended.
What ID requirements are there for adult-use purchases of cannabis?
In order to ensure that all customers are at least 21 years old, they would need to provide identification. Information about a customer’s purchase of an item for “adult use” could not be kept by a store for longer than 60 days without the customer’s express consent.
How would adult-use cannabis sales be taxed?
The excise taxes on recreational marijuana would effectively quadruple those on medical marijuana. Sales taxes at the federal, state and municipal levels often add up to around 10% of a product’s retail price, and a proposed 15% excise tax in one state would be in addition to those taxes. State and municipal sales taxes are in addition to the 7% excise tax on medical marijuana.
Where Would the Tax Revenue from Adult-Use Sales Go?
The money collected from sales taxes would be split between the state and municipal governments. First, OMMA would receive funds from the excise tax to cover the overhead expenses associated with enforcing the law.
There would be a 30% allocation to the state’s general revenue fund, 30% to drug treatment grants, 20% to local governments, 10% to state courts, and 30% to public school grants for programs for at-risk pupils and after-school enrichment activities.
How much money has been raised to support or oppose SQ 820?
On state questions, there are no limits on political contributions or spending. Yes on 820- Up until the end of the year, Oklahomans for Sensible Marijuana Regulations had raised $3.23 million in donations. A majority of the money, according to the initiative’s backers, was spent on petitions to get the measure onto voters’ ballots across the state.
According to campaign papers submitted on Monday, the group plans to spend $790,000 on various campaign activities in 2023, including television ads, digital ads, canvassing materials, and mailings. The formation documents for Protect Our Kids No 820 were submitted on January 31. In its most recent report, campaign organizers estimated that they had raised around $200,000.
Which groups are supporting SQ 820?
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, Arnall Family Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, and Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform are just a few of the philanthropic organizations that have contributed to or backed the SQ 820 campaign.
Students for Sensible Drug Policy, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1000, and Norml, a nationwide organization that supports marijuana legislation reform, are a few more. Numerous local dispensary chains and the Oklahoma Cannabis Business Association have also voiced their support for the initiative.
Which groups are opposed to SQ 820?
Many Oklahoma organizations, including law enforcement, businesses, and churches, have spoken out against State Question 820. These include the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association, Oklahoma District Attorneys Association, Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police, State Chamber of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, and Oklahoma Faith Leaders.
The American Medical Association, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics have all released public policy statements against adult-use commercial cannabis marketplaces at the state level.