“This election isn’t about whether or not or not Oklahoma could have marijuana,” Mr. Kiesel stated. “Marijuana is right here. It’s about what we’re going to do about it.” He stated the large constituency for medical marijuana within the state — almost 10 p.c of the state’s 4 million residents maintain medical marijuana playing cards — steered a considerable stage of help for marijuana use. And but, he stated, there continues to be numerous arrests for possession of marijuana, pointing to the necessity to extra absolutely legalize it.
The proliferation of dispensaries — the state counts 2,890 energetic licenses — is clear on even the shortest drive by means of many municipalities. Within the Oklahoma Metropolis neighborhood of Bricktown, which has many eating places and resorts, dispensaries are already establishing in anticipation of attainable marijuana tourism from Texas or different neighboring states, ought to the poll measure cross.
“I really feel like we have already got leisure marijuana. It simply doesn’t look like there are any limitations,” Mayor David Holt stated in a latest interview with The Instances. “Proper now, I’m properly conscious there’s a dispensary on each nook.”
On Tuesday, exterior a polling place in downtown Tulsa, Quinn Johnson stated he voted sure on the measure, which, along with legalizing using marijuana for these 21 and over, would additionally arrange a course of for expunging legal convictions for sure previous marijuana offenses.
“I help decriminalization of medication, particularly marijuana,” stated Mr. Johnson, 24, who has had a medical marijuana card for a few yr. “The tax cash goes to go, they are saying, towards faculties, drug rehabilitation, pupil retention, you realize, like, that’s all nice.”
At Home of Dank, a marijuana dispensary within the metropolis, Austin Reed, a co-manager of the shop, stated he anticipated that passage of the measure might double his enterprise. “It’s going to usher in much more tax income to the state,” Mr. Reed stated. “I’ve heard it might deliver extra crime and stuff like that, however I’m not so certain.”
