Oklahoma Petition to Improve State’s Cannabis Program Withdrawn After Not Reaching Signature Goal

The Oklahoma campaign seeking to improve the state’s cannabis program
announced on Tuesday that it had not gathered enough signatures to get its
proposal on the ballot. In a November 4 Facebook post, Oklahomans for
Responsible Cannabis Action (ORCA) noted that had the proposition “been a
statutory measure,” it “would likely be headed to the ballot.”

The proposed constitutional amendment would have implemented safeguards for
cannabis consumers, including protections for housing, employment, parental
rights, firearm possession rights, and healthcare. The proposal would have
prohibited the “mere presence” of THC from being used as evidence of
impairment with regard to driving.

The measure also would have allowed home cultivation by adults 21 and older
and would have eliminated additional licenses, fees, or registration for
licensed cannabis businesses to “engage in business activities of the same
business license type and at the same location.” The proposal would have
reduced industry taxes and changed how the funds are dispersed.

According to the Secretary of State’s office, the campaign officially
withdrew the petition on November 3. The campaign needed 173,000 signatures
to get the issue on ballots, and while the campaign fell short, the
post indicated plans to report the number of signatures it collected in the
coming days.