The State Chamber Opposes State Question 820
Many of our members are aware of the special election slated for March 7. The only vote on the ballot is State Question 820 (SQ 820). SQ 820 legalizes recreational marijuana use, possession, harvest, transportation, and distribution for individuals 21 years old and older. It does not modify the medical marijuana program.
Oklahoma passed SQ 788 in 2018, making medical marijuana legal, but it failed to create a regulatory system needed for a true medical marijuana program. SQ 820 also lacks a sufficient regulatory scheme and implementation plan, both of which are essential for introducing recreational marijuana into the state.
SQ 820 adversely affects the state in a variety of ways, including its impact on children, workforce reliability and limited regulatory environment, as well as law enforcement concerns.
“Oklahoma is still trying to sort out the aftereffects of our hastily approved medical marijuana program. To this day, our state is suffering from serious regulatory and enforcement issues,“ said Chad Warmington, president and CEO of The State Chamber. “SQ 820 has many unforeseen consequences that will no doubt add to the overall marijuana crisis in Oklahoma. Approving SQ 820 makes the situation worse without solving the problems that persist. We encourage Oklahomans to say ‘No’ to SQ 820.”
