Oklahoma voters had the opportunity to make history on Tuesday, April 6th, as they decided on State Question 820, which would make it legal for people to have up to one ounce of weed for adult use, grow up to six cannabis plants, and create a regulatory system for the sale and cultivation of marijuana in the state. This question appeared on the ballot alongside several municipal elections, including the race for mayor of Enid between David Mason and Jayme Wright, and a Mustang school bond.
The voting results showed that nearly 60% of the voters in Oklahoma voted to approve State Question 820, making it the first time a state in the conservative Midwest has legal recreational marijuana. The measure passed in all 77 counties, but the highest concentration of support was in the eastern part of the state, which is traditionally more liberal. The passage of the law is expected to create a lucrative new industry in the state, with estimates of $200 million in annual sales by 2024.
The passage of the law is being celebrated by proponents of marijuana legal, but there is still much work to be done. The law requires the state to create a regulatory system for the sale and cultivation of marijuana, and the tax revenue generated by marijuana sales must be used to fund education and public health initiatives. Additionally, the law requires that marijuana sales be restricted to adults only and that products be tested for quality and safety.