A group in Oklahoma pushing to legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older is preparing to begin collecting signatures to get the issue on the ballot. The proposed measure, State Question 837, would legalize recreational cannabis and apply local and state taxes to its sale. It would also eliminate the current excise tax on medical cannabis and introduce a 10% tax on adult-use purchases.
In addition, the proposal includes a key legal safeguard that would bar law enforcement from assuming someone is under the influence just because they’ve used cannabis or have THC in their system. This seeks to prevent wrongful accusations based on chemical presence alone.
If passed, the measure would become a constitutional amendment. Jed Green, who leads the group Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action (ORCA), said the initiative is designed to streamline and clarify previous legislation.
In 2023, a similar attempt, State Question 820, was voted down. Green noted that a lack of unity within the cannabis community may have contributed to that outcome. This time, however, he believes the proposal is gaining wider support both from within the industry and among state residents.
“For the past few months, we’ve been building relationships with local communities and cannabis businesses throughout the state,” Green said. “When we kick off signature collection on August 6, we expect to be active in most counties.”
To get the proposal on the ballot, supporters need to collect close to 173,000 valid signatures by November 3. The petition was submitted for approval earlier this spring.
This initiative comes on the heels of a new law, SB 1087, which modifies how citizen-led proposals work in Oklahoma. Among other changes, the legislation limits the number of required signatures for constitutional amendments to 20.8% of the votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial race. That law is currently under review by the state’s Supreme Court.
Green noted that the new law has added paperwork but hasn’t changed their grassroots strategy. He stated that support for the campaign is strong, pointing out that over 330,000 Oklahomans currently hold medical cannabis cards.
He added that summer is the ideal time to gather signatures thanks to community events, fairs, and sports games. Still, due to signature limits by county, the group will also need to focus on smaller and more rural areas like Harmon County, where only a small number of people can sign.
“Maybe we’ll spend the day at the co-op or the courthouse,” Green said. “Only 117 people in Harmon County can sign, so we’ll be there soon.”
Will this second attempt deliver the needed policy change? Major marijuana companies in and outside the country, such as SNDL Inc. (NASDAQ: SNDL), will be watching as the process plays out.
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