Opportunities for radical change in the fundamental way a state does business with its citizens and how ordinary people relate to each other occur rarely. It is so very disappointing when such an opportunity is allowed to slip by, especially in light of the knowledge that such a chance to affect change in a major way might not ever be seen again for quite some time, perhaps never again in our lifetime. The proponents of recreational marijuana did their due diligence last year and collected the requisite number of signatures to get a state question placed on the ballot for a plebiscite for all registered voters in Oklahoma. When the state Supreme Court declined to place the question on the November ballot due to the short timeframe from its presentation to the General Election, Governor Kevin Stitt issued a proclamation to declare a special election for State Question 820. That election took place statewide on Tuesday, March 7th and SQ 820 was the only item on the ballot. For those backing the legalization of recreational marijuana in Oklahoma, their efforts were for naught as the measure was sadly rejected by a substantial margin, 62% against to 38% in favor. The number of votes cast was 566,004 representing 25.35% of the total number of the state’s registered voters.
Not that long ago the voters of Oklahoma approved medical marijuana by a respectable vote margin of 57 to 43 percent. Since its passage in June of 2018, there have been more than 2800 marijuana dispensaries established throughout all of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. Ten percent of the state’s adult population now hold a medical marijuana card. Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry ranks among the nation’s most liberal and has become an impressive source of state revenue. It was noted that the state tax commission received from this particular sector of industry some $56.6 million for the state’s treasury through September 2022. Apparently having one legitimate cannabis-based revenue spigot was the maximum limit of Oklahoma’s conservative social mores. As of the final vote count after the polls closed on March 7th, allowing cannabis for recreation was simply a bridge too far, profits and tax revenues be damned.
Despite outspending the mostly quiet “No on 820” lobby by over 20 to 1, the message sent by the voters to the proponents of recreational cannabis use was an emphatic and resounding “NO, NOT IN THIS STATE!” This lends to the old saying, ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same.’ This can be likened to as it is somewhat reminiscent of the Liquor by the Drink issue that was kicked around from the 1960s into the 1980s. It took from Statehood until 1984 to get Liquor by the Drink, i.e., the ability to legally enter an establishment that served alcohol and purchase a beverage containing hard liquor, to be placed before the voters on a general election ballot with a county option to opt out. Before then, access to hard liquor had multiple rules and restrictions. Very like Will Rogers once said of a certain region of his beloved home state:
Next to the loss of the revenue potential, probably the most disappointing thing about what the 820 vote result reveals is that so many people in Oklahoma either truly believe that recreational users of cannabis won’t use it just because of its illegality. Also, they simply do not care about tainting otherwise ordinary citizens, friends and neighbors with an aura of criminality for simply possessing and partaking of the leaves of an indigenous plant. I have known many recreational users of marijuana in Oklahoma. Each one has at some point acknowledged they know using it is against the law. Each one showed their regard for the law when they waived the risk of breaking it every time they used. Many of these same people were among the first ones in line for medical MJ cards when they became available. It struck me very like the old ‘Liquor by the Wink’ system in the days before Liquor by the Drink. Same concept, different substance. Even still, if nothing changes, nothing changes. Thanks to the legality of medical cannabis, marijuana will remain one of the most lucrative cash crops in the Sooner State. If anyone wishes to legally partake, they must be 18 years of age, prove their identity with an acceptable photo ID and have a signed physician recommendation for it from an authorized physician in order to be issued a medical marijuana license. Such is the system for the here and now and the foreseeable future. As for recreational marijuana for Oklahoma, it was and is a great idea, just not for us Oklahomans.
I completely agree that opportunities for radical change in the fundamental way a state does business with its citizens are rare and should be taken advantage of when they do come around. The legalization of recreational marijuana is a prime example of such an opportunity. As more and more states move towards legalization, it’s disappointing to see Oklahoma lagging behind.
However, I do have a question about the potential consequences of legalization. While I believe that adults should have the right to make their own choices, I worry about the impact that legalizing marijuana could have on public health and safety. How can we ensure that people don’t abuse the drug and drive under the influence or become addicted to it? Are there measures in place in other states that have legalized marijuana that have been successful in mitigating these risks?
I never even knew this was on the ballet. I voted on it when it was approved medically and I used to get e-mails all the time about it. Somebody dropped the ball on getting the word out – I would certainly have voted for it again. I wonder if I didn’t hear about it, cause I’ve been absentee voting ?
“Since its passage in June of 2018, there have been more than 2800 marijuana dispensaries established throughout all of Oklahoma’s 77 counties.” Must be lots of sick Okies in the State, to need that many pot dispensaries… 😉 As good ole Merle used to say, “We don’t smoke that nasty illegal shit in Muskogee; we’re content to burn up our brain cells with just plain ole booze.” Keep on choogling, folks…
I was just telling the old cowboy from Wyoming about not getting Liquor by the drink until 1984. I remembered that when I boarded a flight from Tulsa, I had to wait until the airplane flew over the Oklahoma State Border to order a drink. I drew upon this vote as the same BS. Been there.