Oklahoma: Enough Signatures Gathered to Put Recreational Marijuana Initiative on November Ballot

A nonprofit organization aiming to put a marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot in Oklahoma announced Sunday that it has collected enough signatures to do just that.

Green The Vote says it has collected 132,527 for State Question 797, which would legalize marijuana for everyone 21 and older. This is over the 124,000 signatures required to put the initiative to a vote of the people this November 6. However, the group will be continuing to collect signatures in order to reach their goal of 150,000 in order to ensure that enough of the signatures are valid (from registered Oklahoma voters).

If the proposal is put on the ballot, and subsequently passed into law by voters, the possession of up to four ounces of marijuana, and the cultivation of up to eight seedlings and four mature marijuana plants, would be legal for those 21+. The possession of up to two ounces of marijuana concentrates and up to 72 ounces of marijuana-infused products would also be legal, with a system of licensed marijuana retail outlets authorized to sell the plant.

Under State Question 797 marijuana would be taxed at no more than 7% at the state level, with localities allowed to place an addition tax of up to 2%. The majority (75%) of the tax revenue garnered would go to the Department of Education, with the remainder going to the Department of Health for drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs.

If the proposal is successfully put on the November ballot, Oklahoma voters will be deciding the fate of recreational marijuana less than five months after voting to legalize medical cannabis.