Petition drive begins to put medical marijuana on a ballot in Oklahoma

A petition drive has officially begun to obtain enough signatures to put a medical marijuana initiative on the ballot in the November elections in Oklahoma.

Organizers have 90 days to get 200,000 certified signatures.

On its website, LegalizeOK says "We believe (it) is the right of everyone Oklahoman to have unfettered access to the fruits of the earth without the threat of government interference or becoming subject to an immoral incarceration system."

The information on the website includes the official ballot title, reproduced here:

This measure adds to the Oklahoma Constitution. Currently, marijuana is an illegal drug. The measure legalizes the licensed use, sale and growth of marijuana in Oklahoma. Such legalized action may nonetheless violate federal law. No prescription is required for use. Rather, the State Department of Health must issue medical marijuana licenses allowing limited possession if:

• the applicant is 18 or over;
• the applicant is an Oklahoma resident; and
• an Oklahoma board-certified physician signs the application,
• certifying the applicant has a qualifying condition.

The measure lists 37 qualifying medical conditions, ranging from cancer to insomnia and permits additional conditions.

User licenses are lifetime licenses, regardless of the continuing existence of the condition.

The Department also issues seller, grower, packaging, transportation and caregiver licenses. Sellers, whether individuals or retail businesses, must meet minimal requirements to be licensed to sell marijuana to licensees. Among other requirements, sellers must:

• be 25 or over;
• have a business plan;
• be registered to conduct business in Oklahoma; and
• show ability to invest $100,000

The punishment for unlicensed possession of permitted amounts of marijuana by persons stating they have a qualiffing medical condition is a fine not exceeding $400.00.

A 7 % tax is imposed on medical marijuana sales.