This is a lot of extra administrative work for us. It is essentially extra administrative work.
By Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
Supporters of recreational marijuana are continuing their campaign to have it placed on Oklahoma’s ballot, even though they remain uncertain about the constitutionality of a recent law that adds new regulations.
Supporters of State Question 837 received permission to begin collecting signatures for a constitutional amendment that would legalize the use of recreational marijuana.
Begin collecting signatures on August 6! The deadline for turning in 172.993 signatures to the government is November 3.
The Senate passed the bill and Governor. Kevin Stitt (R) in May signed into law Senate Bill 1027 that puts more restrictions on the process voters use to get issues on the ballot.
It quickly drew two legal challenges in the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
The state’s high court has not blocked the law from taking effect because it wrote that it is considering a challenge to a State Question 836 to open the state’s primaries. This court order doesn’t explain why it was issued.
This new law limits the amount of signatures collected per county. Supporters say this encourages more participation from counties outside of the largest ones.
Jed Green, director of Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action (a group that advocates for legalization), is a pro-legalization marijuana advocate.
Green stated, “We will be following up on the instructions provided to us by the Secretary of State at the beginning.” Green said, “This is just extra work.” “The more flagrant unconstitutional elements of 1027 could be litigated in the future.”
The new law requires that the organization collect signatures from 20 counties. Because his organization operates statewide he believes he can do this successfully.
Amber England has been involved in several ballot initiatives including the successful expansion of Medicaid as well as the current campaign to increase the minimum wage at least to $15 per hour. In June 2026, the issue of raising minimum wage to $15 an hour will appear in a ballot. She stated that although the state does have a process for initiating petitions, it has effectively been closed down because of the legislative restrictions.
She said, “I’ve worked on a variety of different petitions for initiative over the past decade.” “The process gets harder each time, because the Legislature imposes different restrictions on the process to try and take away power from voters.”
After the lawmakers did not act, the voters took action to extend Medicaid, reform criminal justice, and legalize marijuana.
Voters have rejected legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
In 2018, 57% of voters approved the legalization of medical marijuana.
They defeated the proposed change to state law that would have allowed recreational marijuana less than five year later. Nearly 62 percent of voters voted against the State Question 820.
Pat McFerron who led the campaign to stop the legalization of recreational marijuana said that it had failed in 77 outlying counties.
He added, “I’m sure most Oklahomans consider the system in place de facto to be recreational.” The barrier to purchase cannabis is minimal, so there’s no reason to increase it.
Oklahoma Voice published this article first.