Oklahoma votes against legal recreational use of marijuana

Oklahoma residents on Tuesday voted down State 820’s question, which asks residents if they want to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults over 21.

Until it passes, it’s no secret that people are already doing it for medicinal purposes. Five years ago, Oklahoma voters also approved medical marijuana.

Recreational marijuana is illegal in Texas, but cannabis advocates had high hopes that voters in neighboring Oklahoma would legalize it for adults.

In Denton, a grassroots organization called “Depenalize Denton” helped put Proposition B on the ballot, in which a majority of Denton’s residents voted to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana.

“Republicans, Democrats and independents have gathered in Oklahoma in the past and are doing it again tonight about recreational cannabis use, where here in the city of Denton we’re just begging the police department not to put people in jail,” Nick Stevens said. , Executive Director of Decriminalize Denton.

He said that despite last November’s vote, people were arrested and convicted for using small amounts of marijuana. It’s currently a topic of debate at City Hall as they figure out how to follow a law passed by more than 70% of Denton’s voters.

“The Denton Police Department and the city leadership are ignoring the will of the people, they are overthrowing free and fair elections,” Stevens said.

As far as Texas passing its own marijuana laws, there is still a long way to go, even if some Texans are allowed access to medical marijuana.

“If we were allowed to campaign in Texas, we would have legalized cannabis in Texas by now,” Bass said. “Every poll, every poll shows that the vast majority of Texans are in favor of legalizing cannabis and lifting the retail ban in our state.”

“I am optimistic, times are changing. Oklahoma is a much more conservative state than Texas,” Stevens said.

Bass from Tulsa also commented on the evolution of marijuana in OK.

He said that when he served in the Oklahoma National Guard many years ago, one of their tasks was to cut down marijuana plants with a machete, douse the floors with gasoline and burn them.

“They have already arrested the people who ran this illegal marijuana operation., so Oklahoma has come a long way since I cleared this marijuana field as a soldier on guard,” Bass said.

Although there was no line at the polling station in Durant hours after the polls closed, the flow of voters was consistent on both sides.

“I think that if it is legal, there will be more crime than now. Because it’s a drug, it’s gotten a lot more expensive here,” Ivy Hughes said.

“I think it might be bad for our environment. Particularly as a nurse, I see the side effects of statewide legalization,” said Donna Varne.

Others said they supported legalization in part because of a 15 percent excise tax, which would generate $434 million in revenue over four years, according to a study funded by the Oklahoma Cannabis Growers Association.

“I’m sure Texans who smoke marijuana will love it, but I’m all for tax purposes and I’m helping our schools, our parks, our roads, and what we need to do here in our state,” Jimmy Lungo said. .

Marijuana use is currently legal in 21 states and Washington.

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