Gov. Stitt vetoes major marijuana reform bill as legislature adjourns for the sessions
 

Last update: May 22, 2020

After winning overwhelming bipartisan approval from the Oklahoma Legislature, HB 3228 was vetoed by the governor. And though marijuana policy reform advocates made a last-second push to urge legislators to override Gov. Stitt’s veto, lawmakers adjourned the legislative session without taking action on the bill. 

The legislation would have allowed out-of-state medical marijuana patients to obtain a renewable three-month temporary license and permit dispensaries to deliver medical marijuana to registered patients who live within a 10-mile radius. It also would have eased penalties and removed jail time for first-time offenses for individuals found in possession of marijuana without a medical marijuana license.

This is certainly a disappointment, but there will be many more fights ahead. Our movement to replace harmful marijuana laws with sensible alternatives continues to gain steam, and it’s only a matter of time before we prevail.

Oklahoma’s medical marijuana program has flourished since voters approved the original law in 2018. With nearly 300,000 patients registered, the state Tax Commission reports that medical marijuana sales generate close to $10 million each month in state tax revenue.

Oklahoma medical cannabis law swiftly implemented

On June 26, 2018, Oklahoma voters legalized medical marijuana! Since then, the state has become the quickest in the nation to fully implement an effective medical cannabis law.

About two months later, the health department began accepting applications from patients, caregivers, and prospective medical cannabis businesses. Licensed medical marijuana patients and caregivers are allowed to possess and grow limited amounts of cannabis and to purchase cannabis from regulated businesses. (You can read our summary of SQ 788 here.) The first sales began about a month later.

Less than two years after enactment, Oklahoma’s program is already one of the largest in the nation. As of October 2019, the Medical Marijuana Authority had issued licenses to 200,000 patients and nearly 7,000 medical cannabis businesses.

Oklahoma City decriminalizes possession; ask state lawmakers to follow suit

On September 24, 2018, the Oklahoma City Council approved reducing the penalty for simple possession of marijuana to a fine of up to $400. Until the new law took effect on October 26, 2018, the maximum fine for possession was $1,200 and six months of jail time. Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty recommended the ordinance, explaining it would keep the city safer by allowing officers to stay on the streets.

Let your lawmakers know the time has come for statewide decriminalization!

Penalizing individuals with jail time and a criminal record for possessing small amounts of marijuana wastes law enforcement resources. It can also lead to a lifetime of harsh consequences, including denial of student financial aid, housing, employment, and professional licenses. You can find more information on decriminalization here.

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