Medical marijuana bill dies quietly as Oklahoma Legislature adjourns

It was an interesting year for marijuana policy reform in Oklahoma. Senator Connie Johnson (D-Oklahoma City) introduced SB 573, “The Compassionate Use Act of 2011.” The bill would have exempted patients, and their caregivers, whose doctors recommend marijuana from the state’s criminal penalties for use or cultivation of marijuana. It was the first time medical marijuana legislation had been introduced in the state. Unfortunately, the bill was never given a hearing, and the legislature never voted on whether or not to advance the bill.

Elsewhere, it was a mixed bag on the legislature’s approach to marijuana policy reform. On the one hand, the Republican-controlled legislature did pass a measure to reduce the state’s prison population and provide alternatives to incarceration in the sentencing of non-violent felons, and the measure was signed by Republican Governor Mary Fallon. Unfortunately, two proposals from Sen. Richard Lerblance (D-McAlester) were not a part of the package. SB 843 would have removed the possibility of incarceration for all non-violent drug-related first offenses, and SB 326 would have reduced the minimum threshold an offender would need to serve from 85% to 65% of his or her sentence before being eligible for probation or parole.

Perhaps most bizarrely, in the same year the legislature considered multiple ways to reduce reliance on incarceration for non-violent drug offenders, it also passed an outrageous law providing for sentences of up to life in prison for making hash, a concentrated form of marijuana.

Several legislators have indicated a desire to continue efforts to reform the state’s criminal justice system next year, so  subscribe to our free email alerts in order to get up-to-the-minute information on any new developments. You should also send an email to your legislators asking them to sponsor  medical marijuana and  decriminalization legislation. Finally, if you are a patient who could benefit from the medical use of marijuana, a medical professional, or a member of the law enforcement or legal communities, please contact MPP at state@mpp.org to see how you can be of special help in passing these bills.

Learn more about Oklahoma's marijuana laws

With the potential penalty of up to one year in prison, Oklahoma ranks third in the nation in strict penalties for possessing an ounce or less of marijuana. You can learn more about Oklahoma’s marijuana laws by reading this report by economist Jon Gettman, Ph.D.

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