Three States Reject Recreational Marijuana: Will Oklahoma Pass SQ 820 in March?

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Recreational marijuana will be on our ballot soon, but the fate of similar ballot questions failed in three of five states that voted on it last night.

This leaves many questioning if State Question 820 here in Oklahoma will pass next year.

Campaign Director for Yes on State Question 820, Michelle Tilley, told Fox 25 that they are still very optimistic that Oklahoma will pass SQ 820 on March 7th.

State Question 820 is a law that has been brought by the people of Oklahoma through the petition process.

“What it will do is legalize recreational marijuana in Oklahoma, and it’s going to provide a 15% tax on that marijuana which is going to provide funds for our schools, health care, or local governments,” Tilley said.

Tilley says SQ 820 is different from the laws rejected in Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota last night, their measures not having provisions to expunge criminal records for marijuana convictions like SQ 820 does.

“It also allows for a process for those who have been convicted of minor marijuana issues in the past to have that cleaned up the record,” she said.

She says the Yes on State Question 820 Campaign is not phased by the other states’ rejections.

“Honestly, we’re focused on Oklahoma. We are Oklahomans and this has been a process we’ve been working on for the last three years to get this law right for Oklahoma,” she said, “We know that an overwhelming majority of Oklahomans support the idea of legalizing marijuana and taxing it and regulating it so that our state can see the benefits of that program.”

They say they are still confident that the question will pass come the special election in March.

“We’re very optimistic,” Tilley said, “People think it’s past time to legalize recreational here in Oklahoma.”

State Question 820 will be voted on in a special election on March 7th, and the Yes on 820 Campaign encourages Oklahomans to vote on election day.