An Oklahoma campaign to put marijuana legalization on the 2026 ballot is off to a solid start—with hundreds of businesses across the states now carrying petitions for the initiative.
Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action, (ORCA), officially began signature collection last week. This was after clearing the procedural hurdles with officials. It’s been two years since voters rejected an earlier version.
To help facilitate the signature gathering process, ORCA has launched an interactive map that helps prospective supporters locate the businesses—a mix of existing medical cannabis dispensaries and other retailers, from restaurants to tattoo parlors to liquor stores—that are keeping petitions on-site.
Jed Green of OCRA told MEDCAN24 that he was “very encouraged” by the level of enthusiasm being shown by businesses in Oklahoma and by our entire community. This just proves the level of enthusiasm for this project in Oklahoma.
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He said, “It is a scramble at the moment but things are going very well.” We’re encouraged by the early results.
During the last election, Governor Kevin Stitt (R) approved legislation that some advocates worry will hinder future citizen-led policy changes including cannabis reform. 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. Currently, the law is being litigated over reasons that are unrelated to cannabis-specific proposals.
ORCA’s initial signature campaign will focus on rural areas so advocates can monitor them. They will then focus their attention on the larger cities in Oklahoma, such as Oklahoma City or Tulsa.
ORCA is required to provide the required 172.993 signatures before November 4. The secretary of state will then need to verify them. After that, there is a 90 day window to file any legal challenge. The measure will be on the ballot in November 2026 if the campaign is successful.
Green previously said that one of the key differences between the initiative his organization is pushing and the 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.
This is what ORCA’s newest marijuana legalization proposal would achieve:
- The law would permit adults aged 21 or older to possess and purchase cannabis up to eight ounces for personal consumption. 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 that serve state-licensed cannabis companies would be exempted from penalties under the constitutional amendment.
- Further, this initiative will 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 responsibility, educational opportunities, extracurriculars” and “licensure” (or licensed activity) such as gun ownership, driving, driving licenses and other rights.
- In order to protect the public, THC metabolites could no longer be used by law enforcement as proof that a person is impaired.
- Local governments will not be allowed to ban marijuana growing at home. Any regulations set by them on this activity must not be too burdensome. A public ordinance on smoking marijuana in public cannot be any more restrictive than the current tobacco laws.
- After 60 days, existing medical cannabis dispensaries and any retail licensees would be allowed to begin selling adult products. In 180 days they can start selling cannabis products to adult consumers.
- The state agencies that regulate medical cannabis would also be in charge of the adult market.
- 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.
- The state would receive 40% of the revenue, and counties (30%) as well as municipalities (30%) where there were retail sales. The revenue from unincorporated areas would be evenly split, with 50 percent going to the county and a half-share for the state general fund.
- The tax on cannabis for patients registered with the Cannabis Registry will be abolished 60 days after it is enacted.
- The law also says that marijuana companies licensed by the state can’t be stopped from doing interstate business if federal laws change or there is a court order allowing such activities. The legislature could impose a wholesale tax of up to 3 percent on marijuana exported outside state borders if that were to happen.
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.
Mike Latimer provided the photo.