Oklahomans headed to the polls on Tuesday to cast their votes on whether to legalize recreational marijuana in the Sooner State. The state has embraced medical marijuana, with some 400 dispensaries in Oklahoma City alone. But voters decided against going further. State Question 820 would have legalize recreational cannabis for adults over 21. It was resoundingly rejected Tuesday.
A yes vote in this special election would have made Oklahoma the 22nd state to legalize recreational marijuana. With results in from all precincts, the measure was defeated by a wide margin, with about 60 percent of voters rejecting the proposal.
Oklahoma voters rejected a state question Tuesday to allow for the recreational use of marijuana, following a late blitz of opposition from law enforcement, religious organizations and some of the state’s Republican leaders. The measure was defeated by a wide margin, with about 60 percent of voters rejecting the proposal.
The measure was backed by a coalition of pro-legalization groups. Supporters argued that the regulated sale of cannabis will generate tax revenues and reduce the burden on the criminal justice system. Opponents of the measure argued that legalizing recreational marijuana would lead to increased crime and drug use.
The measure would have allowed adults 21 and over to possess up to two and a half ounces of marijuana and grow up to six marijuana plants for personal use. It would have also created a regulatory framework for retail stores and a tax of seven percent on sales of cannabis.
See full results and maps from the Oklahoma elections, including data on how Oklahomans voted on the marijuana measure. According to the Oklahoma State Election Board, more than 70 percent of precincts have reported in, with 63 percent of voters rejecting the measure.
Opponents of the measure argued that legalizing recreational marijuana would lead to increased crime and drug use. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations said that the measure would have made the state a magnet for drug traffickers and that it was “a recipe for disaster.”
Supporters of the measure argued that the regulated sale of cannabis would generate tax revenues and reduce the burden on the criminal justice system. They said that the measure would create jobs and boost the economy.
The measure was opposed by many religious organizations, including the Catholic Diocese of Tulsa, which argued that legalizing recreational marijuana would lead to increased drug use and pose a danger to families.
Oklahoma voters had the final say on Tuesday. The measure was defeated by a wide margin, with about 60 percent of voters rejecting the proposal. The results show that the state remains resistant to recreational marijuana legalization.
