Green the Vote: Legalizing medical marijuana in OK

The deadline to reach 123,725 signatures is December 29, 2015. Photo provided.

by Sara Ritsch
Staff Writer

Residents of Oklahoma who are in need of medical marijuana for themselves or their children currently have two options: Relocate to Colorado (or another legalized state) or commit a felony. A group called “Green the Vote” has enacted a petition for the legalization of medical marijuana in Oklahoma that will be collecting signatures until its deadline on December 29, 2015.

The petition needs 123,725 signatures in order for the new Article to the Oklahoma Constitution to be accepted. If this amount is reached, the cause will have a place on the 2016 ballot. As of today the total number of signatures is 42,661, according to a front desk volunteer for the cause, Karla Gates. 81,064 more signatures are needed.

“Green the Vote” volunteers can be seen advocating in the streets, collecting both honks and thumbs ups by passersby. But, as Gates says, “If every person who honked would sign the petition, we would have plenty of signatures – but not many people stop.”

Medical marijuana is not available for access by Oklahomans who are in need of a physician’s prescription. Patients who have benefited from cannabis oil or CBD suffer from life-threatening illnesses ranging from cancer to Dravet Syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy. Others, who suffer from anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder such as veterans of war, have seen results from medical marijuana and THC.

In many cases, pharmaceutical medications reap only a fraction of the benefits that are seen from cannabis.

“It’s a matter of mercy,” Gates makes her plea. “People should have access to safe, effective medication without the serious, even deadly, side effects of some of the legal pharmaceuticals.

“The government can regulate it, tax it – we just want access to it. The majority of us doing this work [volunteering for the cause] are patients or have family members who would benefit from it.

“We shouldn’t have to do this. Parents have practically begged Mary Fallin just to open her mind enough to see that there are extreme medical benefits. We are frustrated. We want to at least bring it up.”

Ballot Title:

“This measure adds a new Article to the Oklahoma Constitution, Article 31, sections 1.A to 1.G and 2.A. It allows for the classification of marijuana as an herbal drug regulated by the Oklahoma State Department of Health and permits the use of marijuana under the recommendation of a board certified physician. It allows the sale of marijuana to licensed patients by licensed dispensaries; it allows the sale of marijuana to licensed dispensaries by licensed growers. It permits patients to assert medical reasons for using marijuana as a defense to any prosecution involving marijuana. Tax proceeds from sales of marijuana would be allocated first to fund regulatory processes for the medical marijuana purpose. Excess tax income from sales would then be divided with 75% going to the Oklahoma State Department of Education and 25% to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Additionally, local municipalities may levee an additional tax to be earmarked solely for the construction and repair of public roads. This measure also excludes marijuana containing less than 0.03% THC from the definition of marijuana and reclassifies it as industrial hemp and allows for the growth and commerce thereof when registered with the Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture.”

If you would like to participate by signing this petition, you may visit www.greenthevoteok.com for more information as well as a list of all participating locations. Donations are also being accepted.

 

The Gayly – 12/2/2015 @ 2:44 p.m. CST