Oklahoma state senator introduces bill to legalize marijuana

An Oklahoma lawmaker says she agrees with President Obama that marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol, and she's introduced legislation to make it legal in Oklahoma.

Sen. Constance Johnson (D-Forest Park) has authored a bill (SB2116) that would allow possession of up to an ounce of pot.

It would provide for commercial production and retail distribution of the drug.

In part, the bill reads:

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the following acts are not unlawful and shall not be a criminal or civil offense under Oklahoma law or the law of any political subdivision of Oklahoma or be a basis for seizure or forfeiture of assets under Oklahoma law for persons twenty-one (21) years of age or older: 1.Possessing, consuming, using, displaying, purchasing, or transporting marihuana accessories or one ounce or less of marihuana; 2.Possessing, growing, processing, or transporting no more than five marihuana plants and possession of the marihuana produced by the plants on the premises where the plants were grown; 3.Transferring one ounce or less of marihuana and up to six immature marihuana plants to a person who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older without remuneration; and 4.Assisting another person who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older in any of the acts described in subsections 1 through 3 of this section.

It would also allow the state to regulate and tax marijuana.

The bill, nearly 20 pages in length, goes to lengths to define how the plant would be cultivated, processed and distributed under strict regulations designed to prevent further growth of the black market, and to keep marijuana out of the hands of persons under 21 years of age.

The legislative session opens February 3.