Oklahoma Marijuana Campaign In ‘Home Stretch’ For 2026 Legalization Initiative, With Under Three Weeks To Collect Signatures

Oklahoma activists have just three weeks to go to meet a crucial deadline to gather enough signatures for a legalization of marijuana initiative to appear on the 2026 state ballot.

Key to the campaign’s signature gathering operation are partnerships with retailers across the state—from existing medical cannabis dispensaries to tattoo parlors—that are carrying the petitions. Jed Green from Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action, tells MEDCAN24 about the more than 500 sign-up locations.

He added that “a lot of people are intensifying their efforts.” We’re trying to get people to vote and to buy products at these locations. Also, we want to attend a number of public events in the autumn. We’ve also been working on these.”

ORCA is required to provide the required 172.993 signatures before November 3. The Secretary of State will then need to verify them. There will then be 90 days for legal challenges. The measure will be on the ballot if the campaign is successful in clearing this barrier.

Green stated that “we have some big piles of signatures at the moment” despite the fact the campaign is “decentralized”. With a large base of volunteers, including petitioners, and retail partners as well, Green explained the nature of this effort.

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As we move into the last stretch of our campaign, it is vital for us to reach out to friends, family and to work towards bringing everyone together,” said he. We know we’ve got the votes. All that’s left to do is get everyone together. “The more we can get people to contact their friends and family to encourage them to join, the better.”

As the deadline for submitting signatures in early November is approaching, the turnaround time to deliver the signatures will be tight.

Earlier this year, Gov. Kevin Stitt’s (R) final approval of legislation, which many advocates fear could hinder any future changes in policy driven by citizens including marijuana reform.

The law puts additional requirements on initiative “gist” language that voters see on the ballot and also revise policies around signature gathering to make it so petitioners could only submit signatures from up to 11.5 percent of registered voters in a single county for statutory proposals and 20.8 percent for constitutional measures. The cannabis law is being challenged for other reasons.

Green previously said that one of the key differences between the initiative his organization is pushing and a previous one that failed at the ballot in 2023 is that it accounts for concerns about licensing rules. Green stated that many have criticised the implementation of medical marijuana laws in the state, leading to an explosion of dispensaries.

What would ORCA’s latest initiative on marijuana legalization accomplish?

• Adults 21 years and older could purchase up to 8 ounces cannabis to use for their own personal needs. Also, they could grow as many 12 plants as they wanted and keep what was harvested. They would also be allowed to possess up to an ounce of cannabis concentrated.
• Oklahoma banks will not be penalized for serving state-licensed marijuana businesses, if they accept the proposed amendment to their constitution.
• The initiative will also protect adults who are involved in legal cannabis activities from any negative consequences relating to their “healthcare or housing”, “employment, public aid, public benefit”, “parental right”, “educational opportunity”, “extracurricular activity”, and “licensure” (or licensed activity) such as gun ownership, driving, or other rights.
• The presence of THC in the system of a person could not be considered as evidence of impairment.
• Local governments will not be allowed to ban marijuana growing at home. Any regulations that they impose on this activity cannot be “unduly onerous.” Furthermore, public laws on marijuana smoking in public places could not be stricter than those currently in effect for tobacco.
• After the implementation of this measure, medical cannabis dispensers and new retailers will be allowed to sell to adults 60 days later. In 180 days they can start selling cannabis to adult consumers.
• The adult-use cannabis market would be regulated by the same departments of state that currently oversees the medical marijuana program.
• An excise duty of 10 percent would be levied on products for adult use. However, the initiative states that it is up to the legislative body whether they want to lower the tax or not.
• These tax dollars will go to the general fund of the state (40%) and county (30%) governments, as well 30 percent municipal (30%) governments where retail sales occur. The revenue from unincorporated areas would be evenly split, with 50 percent going to the county and 50 percent to the state general fund.
• After 60 days, marijuana tax rates for cannabis patients will no longer be charged.
• Also, it states that state licensed marijuana businesses cannot be prohibited from participating in interstate commerce in the event of a federal change, or court ruling, allowing this activity. The legislature could impose a wholesale tax of up to 3 percent on marijuana exported outside state borders if that were to happen.

Oklahoma activists have begun collecting signatures. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs and Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs are raising their concerns regarding cannabis.

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Meanwhile in Oklahoma, lawmakers in March advanced a bill aimed at protecting gun rights of state-registered medical marijuana patients, although federal law still bars cannabis users from owning firearms regardless of their patient status.

Another state bill filed in January by a GOP legislator would criminalize the use of medical cannabis during pregnancy.

Side Pocket Images. Photo by Chris Wallis.