Oklahoma House speaker rejects medical marijuana study'speak out now

Published: July 22, 2005

On Monday, July 18, Speaker of the House Todd Hiett (R-Kellyville) rejected a proposed interim study to investigate the benefits of medical marijuana in Oklahoma. With so many seriously ill Oklahoma residents facing arrest simply for taking their medicine, it is outrageous that Hiett refused to even allow the legislature to review the facts about medical marijuana. We cannot let this action go unnoticed.

Please click here to write a letter-to-the-editor expressing your disappointment with Speaker Hiett's decision. We've made it easy for you to send letters through our automated system. Just type up your plea for reason and compassion—which can include one or more of our talking points—and with a click of a few buttons, up to five local papers will receive your letter.

But wait, there's more. A resolution supporting a medical marijuana study can still be introduced in the Oklahoma Senate. So after you've written your letter-to-the-editor, please e-mail Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan (D-Stillwater) and tell him that you would support the Senate conducting a similar study. This could lay the groundwork for passing legislation that will protect seriously ill Oklahomans from arrest and prison, so we cannot afford to pass up this chance.

Then follow up by calling Sen. Morgan at 405-521-5565, and politely saying the following:

"I recently learned that the speaker of the House rejected an interim study on medical marijuana. If a similar study were proposed in the Senate, I hope you would approve it. Please do whatever you can to allow the Senate to investigate the medical benefits of marijuana. Thank you."

Now that the House speaker has rejected the study, it is even more important that the Senate act as soon as possible. But in order for this to happen, we need you to act today.

After you've taken action, please tell your friends and family around the state about this page so that even more voices for reform can be heard. With your help, we can succeed in protecting Oklahoma's medical marijuana patients from criminal penalties. Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project.