In 2022, the Oklahoma legislature passed new legislation legalizing recreational marijuana. This groundbreaking law went into effect on February 1, and puts CBD in the same category as cannabis/marijuana. The law has wide-reaching impacts for individuals and businesses across the state. This article will explore what the new law means for Oklahoma, and how it may affect the industry.
One of the biggest questions that the new law brings up is what impact it will have on black markets. In states that have legalized recreational marijuana, do black markets grow or shrink? In Oklahoma, the answer is not yet clear. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and the possession or sale of marijuana is a crime. This means that black markets still exist in Oklahoma, and could potentially grow as a result of the new law.
In addition to the potential impact on black markets, the new law could also affect gun ownership in the state. A federal judge in Oklahoma recently ruled that a federal law prohibiting people who use marijuana from owning firearms is unconstitutional. This means that the ban on gun ownership for marijuana users in Oklahoma has been declared unconstitutional. The ruling could have far-reaching implications for gun ownership in the state, and could potentially open the door for more people to own firearms.
The new legislation has also sparked a debate between Oklahoma and Kansas. Oklahoma recently passed a law allowing for the sale of recreational marijuana, while Kansas has largely chosen to eschew Oklahoma's model. This has created tension between the two states, and legislators in both states have been debating the merits of the new law.
The debate over the new law has also led to a special election in Oklahoma. In May 2022, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared a statewide special election, scheduled for Tuesday, November 2. The special election will allow Oklahoma voters to decide whether or not to legalize the adult-use marijuana market in the state.
In addition to the special election, Oklahomans for Sensible Marijuana Laws delivered over 164,000 signatures on July 5 to the secretary of state. This is part of a campaign to legalize the adult-use marijuana market in the state. A campaign field staff is in the process of organizing and mobilizing voters in order to make sure that the special election is successful.
The new law also has implications for medical marijuana. In the early autumn of 2022, Oklahoma's secretary of state confirmed that medical marijuana has been legal in Oklahoma since voters passed a ballot measure in 2018. This means that medical marijuana is now a legal option for Oklahomans, and the new law could potentially expand access to medical marijuana in the state.
With the passing of the new law, Oklahoma is now one of many states to legalize recreational marijuana. The law has far-reaching implications for individuals and businesses across the state, and it remains to be seen what impact it will ultimately have on the industry.
