Oklahoma Won’t Be Able to Legalize Marijuana
2023.03.08 04:20
Oklahoma Won’t Be Able to Legalize Marijuana
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – State election returns indicate that a ballot initiative to legalize adult use of marijuana for recreational purposes and establish an excise tax on cannabis sales in Oklahoma appeared headed for a crushing defeat on Tuesday.
According to the state’s unofficial results, with the vast majority of precincts reporting, just over 62% of voters had cast ballots in favor of the recreational marijuana legalization measure known as Question 820, while nearly 38% had voted against it.
Nearly five years had passed since Oklahoma voters approved the legalization of cannabis for medical use.
Adults over the age of 21 would have been able to purchase and keep up to an ounce of marijuana, as well as grow up to six mature cannabis plants for their own use, under the proposed legislation.
Additionally, it would have imposed a 15% sales tax on all recreational marijuana products, with proceeds going to the state’s general fund, municipalities, public education grants, and substance abuse programs.
The licensing and regulation of commercial cannabis businesses would have fallen under the purview of the existing state medical marijuana authority.
In addition, individuals who were previously convicted of low-level marijuana offenses and whose records were expunged or resentenced under the proposal could have done so.
According to a Reuters count, 21 additional states in the United States have fully legalized marijuana for adults as of this year. However, federal law still considers cannabis to be an illegal drug.
Liberalization of marijuana laws is supported by those who argue that criminalizing low-level possession wastes resources and has a disproportionate impact on people of color. They argue that taxing cannabis would bring in millions of dollars in additional revenue for the state.
According to opponents, legalizing marijuana could result in an increase in child drug use, car and workplace accidents, and crime.
