Adult-use cannabis legalization effort launches in Oklahoma!

Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action (ORCA) has launched their signature drive to put Question 837, which would legalize cannabis for adults, to the voters. If approved, legal cannabis access for adults 21 and older would be enshrined in the Oklahoma Constitution.  Locations to sign the initiative petition can be found here.

Although Oklahoma has one of the most comprehensive medical cannabis programs in the nation, cannabis prohibition continues to ruin vast numbers of lives. Some are hesitant to surrender their Second Amendment rights or be on any government list as a patient. Others simply cannot afford the fees to register and get a doctor’s certification. In 2023, there were 3,927 arrests for cannabis possession in Oklahoma. If a person cannot afford bail, they are sometimes held for 30 days before a court date. Then, the maximum sentence for possession of any amount of cannabis is a year in jail. 

Question 837 would stop traumatic and life-altering arrests for simple possession. It also includes home cultivation of up to 12 plants. Meanwhile, Question 837 preserves and improves Oklahoma’s robust medical program. The 7% excise tax on medical cannabis would be abolished, in favor of a 10% excise tax on adult-use sales. State and local sales tax will still apply. Veterans will be able to receive their patient licenses without charge.

The first period for legal challenges has passed without a challenge. The campaign has until November 5, 2026, (90 days from the start date) to collect 172,993 valid signatures. The campaign’s goal is to submit 300,000 signatures to make sure there is a buffer. Then, the Secretary of State will have 45 days to verify those signatures. You can check your voter registration here. 

If Question 837 qualifies, the governor could put the measure on the ballot during the June primary, the November 2026 general election, or he could call a special election. In the last attempt to end prohibition, the governor called for a special election, knowing it would suppress turnout. 

Oklahoma legislature whittles away medical cannabis rights in 2025

In 2025, the Oklahoma legislature did not act on any positive cannabis policy reforms. Since voters defeated Question 820 in 2023, a ballot initiative that would have legalized the adult use of cannabis, lawmakers’ focus has been on limiting Oklahoma’s free market approach to medical cannabis and adding new burdens.

For example, SB 1066 will require doctors to register with the OMMA and complete CMES to recommend cannabis, starting on January 1. The CMEs will cost physicians over $600. These new additional steps may cause physicians to choose not to recommend cannabis to patients. HB1750 had sought to criminalize women who consumed medical cannabis while they knew they were pregnant. There were also attempts to limit purchase amounts for patients this session.

The 2025 legislative session showed that elected officials in the Sooner State will continue to erode the medical cannabis program and add new hurdles. The safest way to ensure access to legal, laboratory-tested cannabis is to enshrine access in the state constitution, as State Question 837 would do. The ballot initiative process is the only realistic way for Sooners to end the failed policy of prohibition and guarantee that all Oklahomans will continue to have access to their medicine. 

Oklahoma’s broad medical cannabis law swiftly implemented

On June 26, 2018, Oklahoma voters passed what may be the nation’s broadest medical cannabis law. After that, the state became the quickest in the nation to fully implement an effective medical cannabis law.

Licensed medical marijuana patients and caregivers are allowed to possess and grow limited amounts of cannabis and to purchase cannabis from regulated businesses. Unlike most medical marijuana states, there is no list of qualifying conditions. “A medical marijuana license must be recommended according to the accepted standards a reasonable and prudent physician would follow when recommending or approving any medication.” (You can read our summary of SQ 788 here.)

Oklahoma’s program is one of the largest in the nation. Over 8.5% of Oklahomans are registered as medical cannabis patients. The state also took a “free market” approach to cannabis businesses. As of August 2025, it has 2,559 licensed growers and 1,559 dispensaries.

Stay connected

To stay updated on the status of marijuana policy reform in Oklahoma, be sure to subscribe to MPP's alerts, if you haven't done so already.