Oklahoma to vote in November to legalize cannabis

The Pro-Legalization Association Green the Vote, The group, which had been collecting signatures to get a bill legalizing the recreational use of cannabis on the ballot for the upcoming November 6 election, has just announced that it has reached the required number of signatures.

The organization in question managed to collect 132,527 signatures—8,527 more than the 124,000 required to bring the State Question 797 to be put to a vote. However, the group hopes to reach 150,000 signatures to ensure there are enough valid signatures (signed by Oklahoma citizens and residents) and to give the initiative even more weight.

The law in question

This bill would legalize the recreational use of cannabis for people 21 and older. It would also allow the possession of approximately 113 grams of cannabis flower, 57 grams of concentrate, and two kilograms of cannabis-infused products. Growing between 1 and 8 seedlings and 4 mature plants would also be legal.

A legal licensing system for retail sales will be established under the law. The state will tax cannabis-related products at a rate of 7%. Municipalities will be able to impose an additional tax of up to 2%. These taxes will help fund education, prevention, and rehabilitation, but they may result in relatively high prices that could drive some consumers away from the legal market. 75% of these taxes will go to the Ministry of Education, and the remainder to the Ministry of Health.

Five months earlier, Oklahoma voters had voted for legalize cannabis for medical purposes 56% versus 43%. It therefore appears that the state’s population is fairly tolerant of cannabis, and we can expect the bill to be approved and incorporated into Oklahoma’s legal system.