Voters reject recreational marijuana use

Voters in Oklahoma rejected State Question 820 during a March 7 election that would have legalized recreational marijuana sales to those age 21 years and older, nearly five years after approving medical marijuana sale and use for the state.

According to the Oklahoma State Election Board website, https://results.okelections.us, a total of 566,004 votes were cast throughout the state with 216,883 votes for the proposal and 349,121 against it.

In Sequoyah County, a total of 4,744 votes were cast – 3,185 voted against the proposal while 1,559 voted pro.

If Oklahoma voters would have passed SQ 820 Petition No. 434, those 21 and over would have been able to purchase marijuana products for recreational use from licensed sellers.

The state question also would have created a licensing process for recreational marijuana dispensaries, commercial growers, processors and transporters, directing the state to create rules for the preparation and labeling of marijuana products within 90 days after becoming law.

The state would have imposed a 15% excise tax on each sale, with surplus revenue going to student services, drug addiction treatment programs, courts, local government, and the state General Revenue Fund.

Oklahoma would have been the 22nd state to pass recreational marijuana use.

SQ 820 also required “resentencing, reversing, modifying and expunging” past marijuana-related criminal records and convictions.

An estimated 60,000 Oklahomans have a current marijuana-related criminal record. SQ 820 would have permitted resentencing, reversal, modification and expungement for prior marijuana-related criminal records, removing barriers to housing, employment and education.

Election results will not include provisional ballot results until after 5 p.m. March 10. Results are subject to contest and recount and are neither final nor official until they are certified by the appropriate election board.