Group seeking medical marijuana in Oklahoma files petition

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A group seeking to legalize the use of medical marijuana in Oklahoma has taken the first step toward putting the issue to a vote of the people in 2016.

Isaac Caviness with the group Green the Vote filed paperwork Friday with the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s Office indicating their plans to have the question placed on the ballot.

Once the proposed language is approved, the group will have 90 days to gather about 124,000 signatures in order to qualify the state question.

A similar effort failed last year when organizers couldn’t get enough signatures. But low voter turnout during the 2014 election means organizers have to gather about 30,000 fewer signatures in order to put the question on the ballot.

Supporters say public opinion is shifting in favor of marijuana.