As expected, law enforcement has largely opposed SQ 820. At its core, the state question would have legalized recreational sales to anyone 21 and older. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Yes campaign has made this one of its central themes. The state would impose a 15% excise tax on each sale, with surplus revenue going to student services, drug addiction treatment programs, courts, local government, and the state General Revenue Fund. Excise tax revenues will fund implementation of the law, with any surplus revenues going to public school programs to address substance abuse and improve student retention (30% ), the General Revenue Fund (30% ), drug addiction treatment programs (20%), courts (10%), and local governments (10%). When you look at the details like a fine for smoking in public is $25, which is kind of a joke. In the past few years, Oklahoma, long a solid bastion of conservatism, has quietly undergone a street-level transformation when it comes to marijuana. Thanh tra giao thng yu cu hn 100 xe lung xanh quay u. Mr. Stitt set the date of Tuesdays election, a day in March when no other statewide races are on the ballot. Opponents included the governor, Kevin Stitt, along with dozens of Republican state lawmakers and some law enforcement and agricultural associations. Three states reject recreational marijuana: Will Oklahoma pass SQ 820 The campaign, known as Oklahomans for Sensible Marijuana Laws . 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Persons who occupy, own, or control private property may prohibit or regulate marijuana-related conduct, except that a lease agreement may not prohibit a tenant from lawfully possessing and consuming marijuana by means other than smoking. Voters can only cast a ballot at their assigned polling location. We dont need more, and this will absolutely cause more problems.. , and the criminal justice component is one reason why. For a segment of voters, it may be too much too soon. KOSU is nonprofit and independent. At a polling place in a church in south Tulsa, voters opposed to the measure were not hard to find. The final countdown: Will SQ 820 pass or fail? - NonDoc Ngy 16 thng 11 nm 2021, Chnh ph ban . | MORE | What's next for recreational marijuana in Oklahoma after State Question 820 failed? At the Yes on 820 watch party in downtown Oklahoma City Tuesday night, she says this is an issue that Oklahoma voters of all kinds can agree on. Oklahoma State Question 820 would change Oklahoma statutes to legalize recreational cannabis in the state for anyone over 21 years of age. State Questions - Oklahoma.gov What would still be illegal if SQ820 passes? Oklahoma voters on Tuesday rejected the legalization of recreational marijuana, following a late blitz of opposition from faith leaders, law enforcement and prosecutors. However, recreational use of marijuana remains illegal in Oklahoma. The tax money is going to go, they say, toward schools, drug rehabilitation, student retention, you know, like, thats all great.. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority became a standalone agency Nov. 1 and would be responsible for regulating businesses operating in the recreational market. Otherwise, youll have to cast a provisional ballot that wont be counted until after election day. I feel like we already have recreational marijuana. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority is authorized to administer and enforce the law. . @jdavidgoodman, A version of this article appears in print on, With a Marijuana Shop on Every Corner, Oklahoma Rejects Full Legalization, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/07/us/oklahoma-marijuana-ballot.html. Recreational marijuana is permitted for adult use in 21 states, including Missouri, Colorado and New Mexico but still prohibited federally. That would appeal to Oklahomans with a small-government mindset and attract visitors from states without access to legal cannabis. Supporters want voters to approve an initiative that combines legal adult-use cannabis with criminal justice reforms to address past low-level convictions on marijuana-related offenses. Retailers could not keep personally-identifiable information about any adult-use purchase for more than 60 days without the consumers permission. It also prohibits prosecutors from revoking bail, , which legalized the sale and use of medical marijuana in the state. Your support makes this news available to everyone. Deadline: Received by February 20, 2023 at 5 p.m. Special elections in the middle of odd-numbered election years dont typically generate as much interest and excitement as fall general election campaigns do. That prohibition on new businesses would last for two years. Conservatives leaders in Oklahoma and in other states have voiced concern about ballot initiatives on marijuana, raising the minimum wage and protecting access to abortion, and in recent years they have begun seeking to limit the ability of voters to directly decide such questions. Polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information and to check your registration, visit the OK Voter Portal. After this review, the Secretary of State submits the signed petition to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. If passed, SQ 820 would end incarceration for low-level marijuana possession, and in some cases would expunge some records of past convictions for possession. . What would SQ 820 do to address past marijuana-related crimes? Oklahoma Watch, atoklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state. A special election for State Question 820, a statutory ballot initiative to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis for adults, was held on March 7, 2023 in Oklahoma. The election is March 7th. alerts signers that the state question does not impact medical marijuana. In October, Amber Integrated found SQ 820. but there have been no public polls released since. Landlords could not bar tenants from using or possessing marijuana, although they can prohibit smoking marijuana. Along with picking up new customers who don't have a medical marijuana card, the industry would have seen an influx of consumers from other states. The state question initially limits recreational business licenses to current medical marijuana business license holders in operation for at least a year before the effective date of SQ 820. Oklahoma Policy Institute A local government may prohibit or restrict recreational marijuana use on the property of the local government and regulate the time, place, and manner of the operation of marijuana businesses within its boundaries. This is halftime.". Public school programs to address substance abuse and improve student retention. We already have too many marijuana problems right now, Cherrie Stunkard, 65, said, pointing to the safety impact of marijuana on drivers. rights, allows personal use of marijuana, and sets limits on the legal use of. SQ 820 would allow individuals to possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, 6 mature marijuana plants, and 6 seedling plants. A civil fine of $250 or lower would be levied for having plants in view of the public. An estimated 60,000 Oklahomans have a current marijuana-related criminal record, and laws have been disproportionately enforced againstOklahomans of color. . The state question initially limits recreational business licenses to current medical marijuana business license holders in operation for at least a year before the effective date of SQ 820. Customers would only need to show identification to verify that they are 21 or older. "We are obviously pleased with the results, Vote No campaign spokesman Pat McFerron said. Courts must approve such expungements unless theres a risk to public safety. National medical groups, including the American Medical Association, the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have issued public policy statements in opposition to commercial, adult-use cannabis markets at the state level. Law enforcement could not detain or arrest people for smoking or vaping in a public place. Citizens have 10 days to file a protest with the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Our mental health professionals confirm that the use of todays high THC product leads to psychoses and schizophrenia, two diagnoses that are directly tied to homelessness.. Ive heard it could bring more crime and stuff like that, but Im not so sure, Mr. Reed said. SQ 820 would allow individuals to possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, 6 mature marijuana plants, and 6 seedling plants. Marijuana use and possession remain crimes under federal law. There have been discussions among industry groups about asking the Legislature to change the agency's name if SQ 820 were to pass. There are no limits on campaign contributions or spending for state questions. What's next for recreational marijuana in Oklahoma after State Question The state question was on an unusual ballot, appearing in March after signature verification was delayed. Would the passage of SQ 820 affect the existing medical marijuana program approved by voters in June 2018? Leaders say theyre going to continue to propose measures to decriminalize marijuana in Oklahoma. Yes on 820 Campaign Director Michelle Tilley said, I challenge our legislature, I challenge our governor, this in your hands now., "This wasn't about legalizing marijuana. The law limits certain marijuana-related conduct and establishes quantity limits, safety standards, restrictions, and penalties for violations. Adults should be able to use medical marijuana as a matter of individual freedom. "We will be able to produce more products and utilize our facilities to their limit and to what they were designed to do.". Ive got no problem with the use of marijuana, said Paul Boudreaux, 67, a lawyer whose face often appears in local television commercials for his firm and voted no on the measure. Sixty-three percent voted no, while 38 percent voted yes, with about 90 percent of ballots counted as of Tuesday night. The export of marijuana from Oklahoma is prohibited. Oklahoma State Question 820, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative, was on the ballot in Oklahoma as an initiated state statute on March 7, 2023. 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005, Tulsa, OK 74120-4265 Instead, Oklahoma's marijuana laws will remain as-is, barring any significant changes considered by lawmakers this year. Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day. The reason I think its a bad idea is that its still illegal federally, Governor Stitt said at a news conference last month. Ngy 13 thng 11 nm 2020, Quc hi thng qua Lut s 67/2020/QH14 sa i, b sung mt s iu ca Lut X l vi phm hnh chnh, Lut c hiu lc k t ngy 01 thng 01 nm 2022. Excise tax revenues will fund implementation of the law, with any surplus revenues going to public school programs to address substance abuse and improve student retention (30%), the General Revenue und (30%), drug addiction treatment programs (20%), courts (10%), and local governments (10%). Support Journalism. But there are also concerns about the industry in rural Oklahoma, where voters firmly rejected it. Adults over the age of 21 years old would be able to purchase marijuana products for recreational use from licensed sellers. It would have until Sept. 3, which is 90 days after the effective date of the law on June 5. Voters resoundingly shot down State Question 820, which would have made recreational pot legal in the state. That process, however, is a long one and takes well over a year. Dozens of bills affecting that program are up for consideration in this years session. The law requires resentencing, reversing, modifying, and expunging certain prior marijuana-related judgments and sentences unless the State proves an unreasonable risk to a person. Marijuana is here. U.S. Oklahoma voters say "no" to recreational marijuana question Updated on: March 7, 2023 / 9:44 PM / CBS/AP Oklahoma voters rejected a state question Tuesday to allow for the recreational. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. What cannabis can (and cant) do for chronic pain. Xcaret Nuez covers agriculture and rural communities for KOSU as a corps member with Report for America. It was the only item on the ballot for voters to consider. PublishedFebruary 28, 2023 at 10:32 AM CST. State Question 820, the result of a signature gathering drive last year, was the only item on the statewide ballot, and early results showed heavy opposition in rural areas. The initiative was less popular in many rural western and southern counties, and it faced opposition from law enforcement and some medical groups. Meanwhile, Protect our Kids No 820 has spent more than $200,000 so far. Oklahoma voters approved medical marijuana under State Question 788. State Question 820 would legalize adult-use recreational marijuana in Oklahoma. Philanthropic groups that have funded criminal justice reform efforts have donated or endorsed the SQ 820 campaign, including the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, Arnall Family Foundation, ACLU Oklahoma and Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform. Crime and rural tumult: In December, four people were murdered at a marijuana grow operation in Kingfisher County. Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman, via Associated Press. An Amber Integrated poll released at the end of 2022 showed that 49% of possible voters said they would vote in favor of State Question 820, while 38% would vote against it. While a lot of Oklahomans have embraced the cannabis industry, not everyone is as excited to drive down a street lined with dispensaries. 820 would legalize the personal use of marijuana for adults, aged 21 and over, by adding a new act to Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes. And since there aren't any other issues that would bring someone to the polls, the campaigns on either side of the issue will rely heavily on turnout to win. Right now, Im well aware theres a dispensary on every corner.. Its about what were going to do about it. He pointed to those Oklahomans without medical marijuana cards who have been arrested for possession of the drug, pointing to the need to more fully legalize it. The campaign: The Yes campaign has been organized for more than three years, having tried and failed to get legalization on the ballot before. If SQ820 passes, its, estimated to generate more than $400 million. (Medical marijuana has a 7% excise tax in addition to state and local sales taxes.). State Question 820 would make it legal for people to have up to one ounce of weed for adult use, grow up to six cannabis plants and create a pathway to expunge some prior marijuana offenses.. The proliferation of dispensaries the state counts 2,890 active licenses is evident on even the shortest drive through many municipalities. [3] On July 5, over 164,000 signatures were submitted to secretary of state for November 2022 ballot access. Adults 21 and older who possess, produce or transport no more than twice the limits of personal use products could face civil fines of $200 or less and forfeiture of the product. It is the only item on the ballot in every county in the state. However, a local government may not limit the number of, or completely prohibit, such businesses. Nobody should be getting arrested for weed at this point, Thompson said at the Yes on 820 watch party Tuesday night. Oklahomans have embraced weed: Since the state started its medical program, about 400,000 people have held medical patient licenses, which is roughly 10 percent of the states overall population. in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma. The ballot initiative sets up a process for older marijuana convictions to be reversed, resentenced or dismissed. He is dedicated to reforming the criminal legal system away from mass incarceration. But people who worked for the campaign to legalize marijuana were defiant. According to the Yes on 820 campaign, "State Question 820 will create a sensible program tailored to Oklahoma, carefully balancing personal freedom with responsible regulation. Learn how your comment data is processed. Before the election, the owner of a vertically integrated cannabis business told The Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network, that passing SQ 820 would help balance supply and demand. Recent finance campaign reports show Yes on 820 - Oklahomans for Sensible Marijuana Laws has spent about $4 million, mostly towards getting the initiative through the petition process and to a statewide ballot. [7] except that a lease agreement may not prohibit a tenant from lawfully possessing and consuming marijuana by means other than smoking. The law requires resentencing, reversing, modifying, and expunging certain prior marijuana-related judgments and sentences unless the State proves an unreasonable risk to a person. "We will be able to produce more products and utilize our facilities to their limit and to what they were designed to do. Group forms to oppose upcoming vote on legalizing recreational Oklahoma rejects the legalization of recreational marijuana - Deseret News In November, voters passed adult-use cannabis in Maryland and Missouri; voters in North Dakota and South Dakota rejected it. Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day. He has written about government, criminal justice and the role of money in politics for The Times since 2012. The Yes campaign has been organized for more than three years, having tried and failed to get legalization on the ballot before. Economic impact: An economic analysis from Vicente-Sederberg, a cannabis law and policy firm, on behalf of the Yes campaign found that SQ 820 could generate more than $821 million in tax revenue in its first five years. - Cc Kim tra sau thng quan. After all legal challenges are heard, the petition process begins. In October, Amber Integrated found SQ 820 leading 49 to 38 percent, but there have been no public polls released since. Opponents have spent a fraction of that amount. In 2018, voters were also voting in primaries and other local elections. Most Americans favor legalization in some form, and the criminal justice component is one reason why. Passage of State Question 820 would fuel economic activity, create jobs, and generate a new permanent stream of tax revenue for the state, Livingston said. On February 2, 2023, the "Yes" campaign announced it had raised $350,000; the same day, the "No" campaign announced it would be headed by former governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating. It ended up alone following a delay in signature verification, which pushed the state question off the November ballot. You are also allowed to bring any notes, guides or information you need to the polls for the races you're deciding on. Criminal justice reform: If passed, SQ 820 would end incarceration for low-level marijuana possession, and in some cases would expunge some records of past convictions for possession. Voters clearly want to protect our children, crack down on organized crime, and improve the mental health of those in our state. Several groups affiliated with law enforcement, business groups and churches have come out against SQ 820, including 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 Cattlemens Association and Oklahoma Faith Leaders. What are the personal-use protections under SQ 820? Allowing adult-use recreational marijuana would help address a significant cause of racial imbalance in our states criminal justice system, in which a disproportionate number of Black Oklahomans have been charged with marijuana-related offenses when compared to white residents. While the Yes on 820 campaign feels confident, they're planning to work extra hard the next few . We have rural areas that have seen high-profile execution murders in Hennessey, and there is also the issue of foreign land ownership and the strain on water and electric grids in some places.. The legalization of adult-use recreational cannabis was expected to give a boost to the industry, which has been struggling with oversaturation of retail dispensaries and products they sell. The law does not affect an employers ability to restrict employee marijuana use. SQ 820 also requires resentencing, reversing, modifying and expunging past marijuana-related criminal records and convictions. State Question 820 would make it legal for people to have up to one ounce of weed for adult use, grow up to six cannabis plants, and create a pathway to expunge some prior marijuana offenses. Marijuana is still illegal at the federal level and in 29 states, creating a patchwork system of laws. Oklahoma voters will head to the polls today to decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana. I think marijuana is bad for young people. in tax revenue in the first five years following legalization. The sales from adult-use recreational marijuana will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue to fund substance abuse prevention education, mental health services, and other vital community programs across Oklahoma. It lost in Oklahoma County by just 36 votes. Backers of SQ 820 said marijuana enforcement efforts for decades have disproportionately affected Black and Latino communities, as well as rural white communities. Conservatives generally have an advantage in elections with lower turnout. However, the last state question election to be held on a non-general or primary election, held in September 2005, failed with only 18% turnout.[14]. Stitt knows how to get, how to get to Override Street, In close runoff, Comanche Nation citizens unseat two incumbents, Roll-up round up: Stitt vetoes omnibus bill, signs new laws on license fees, lab, Drawing no opponent, Chickasaw Nation Gov. So it is important if you care about this issue to go out and vote.. Weve seen steady support the whole way, and I think its holding pretty well. "I think it will pass, I really do and it will help our business tremendously," Elliott said. SQ 820: Oklahoma recreational marijuana vote does not pass If enthusiasm matters in a low-turnout election, the organization could put SQ 820 over the top. For the proposal YES; Against the proposal NO. An economic impact report put out by supporters shows an estimated $87 million in additional annual tax revenue through 2028 if SQ 820 passes. At House of Dank, a marijuana dispensary in the city, Austin Reed, a co-manager of the store, said that legalizing recreational marijuana could have doubled his business and brought in more tax revenue to the state. Michelle Tilley, campaign director with Yes on 820, said passage will spur more economic activity and free up law enforcement to chase higher-level drug crimes. All 77 counties voted against the state question. Oklahomans have voted against a state question that would have legalized recreational marijuana in the Sooner State, according to the Associated Press. Your support makes this news available to everyone. At its core, the state question would have legalized recreational sales to anyone 21 and older. Opponents and supporters of what was known as State Question 820 massed along mostly familiar lines. Kevin Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond both issued statements praising the outcome of the vote, reiterating their goals of cracking down on the black market and organized crime that sprang out of the state's medical marijuana industry. Statute based state questions can be altered after their passing through normal legislation passed by the Oklahoma Legislature and signed by the Governor of Oklahoma. The law does not affect an employer's ability to restrict employee marijuana use. Marijuana concentrate can take several forms, including liquid, chunks or goo. "No" to legalizing recreational marijuana sales, law enforcement, religious leaders and public school administrators, Here's where marijuana laws stand in each state. State Question 820 failed on Tuesday night, almost five years after Oklahomans voted in favor of another state question that legalized medical marijuana. And beyond that, not everyone is happy to drive down a city street lined with dispensaries. She said she hopes this wakes people up who felt like they didnt need to get out and vote. State Questions Initiatives, referendums and legislative referendums are filed with the Oklahoma Secretary of State. A new effort to legalize marijuana in Oklahoma for adult recreational use gets underway today, as organizers behind State Question 820 can begin gathering signatures that they . Organizers said most of that was spent on getting the initiative through the petition process and to a statewide ballot. Its well-funded, with TV ads going on the air and mailers and door knockers deployed across the state. Kevin Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond, both Republicans, said they will vote no on SQ 820. And that's really what we have with our current medical program. He also said that the state had struggled with the swift rise of marijuana production after the adoption by voters of a medical marijuana program in 2018. In June 2018, SQ 788 established the states medical marijuana program and passed, 56 to 43 percent, performing well in Oklahoma City and Tulsa while holding its own in some of the states more populous rural counties.
Westwood Houses For Rent, San Juan Church Hours Sunday, Htw Berlin Fees For International Students, Cabins For Sale In Parks, Az, Transfer Portal Lacrosse Women's, Articles D