Robert Celt
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Oklahoma's most recent Democratic gubernatorial nominee is spearheading an effort to let state residents vote on the use of medical marijuana.
2014 nominee and former state Rep. Joe Dorman is a board member of Oklahomans for Health. On Monday the group filed an initiative petition to begin gathering signatures to place the proposal on the ballot in November. The group will have 90 days to gather about 86,000 signatures from registered voters to get the proposal on the ballot.
Oklahomans for Health tried to do something similar in 2014, but that effort failed because the amount of signatures needed was significantly higher — 155,000 - eCapitol's Cynthia Santos reports:
This petition, said Paul, is different because rather than proposing a constitutional amendment the agency is filing an initiative. The difference between the two, though they are structurally similar, includes a lower signature threshold creating a piece of law "just like a piece of law that the legislators created."
The signature threshold drops from 155,000 to 86,000. In 2014, the agency turned in over 75,000 signatures.
Paul said he feels confident that the initiate will make the ballot later this year because the issue is not as controversial as it once was. [Frank] Grove noted that because 2016 is a presidential election year when there is no incumbent president, there will likely be a higher voter turnout.
If approved by a majority of voters, doctors in Oklahoma could recommend patients for a medical marijuana license.
About two dozen states allow medical marijuana, and Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics spokesman Mark Woodward told The Associated Press the agency opposes the effort.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Joe Dorman On Front Lines Of Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Effort
Author: Brian Hardzinski
Contact: KGOU
Photo Credit: David Trawin
Website: KGOU
2014 nominee and former state Rep. Joe Dorman is a board member of Oklahomans for Health. On Monday the group filed an initiative petition to begin gathering signatures to place the proposal on the ballot in November. The group will have 90 days to gather about 86,000 signatures from registered voters to get the proposal on the ballot.
Oklahomans for Health tried to do something similar in 2014, but that effort failed because the amount of signatures needed was significantly higher — 155,000 - eCapitol's Cynthia Santos reports:
This petition, said Paul, is different because rather than proposing a constitutional amendment the agency is filing an initiative. The difference between the two, though they are structurally similar, includes a lower signature threshold creating a piece of law "just like a piece of law that the legislators created."
The signature threshold drops from 155,000 to 86,000. In 2014, the agency turned in over 75,000 signatures.
Paul said he feels confident that the initiate will make the ballot later this year because the issue is not as controversial as it once was. [Frank] Grove noted that because 2016 is a presidential election year when there is no incumbent president, there will likely be a higher voter turnout.
If approved by a majority of voters, doctors in Oklahoma could recommend patients for a medical marijuana license.
About two dozen states allow medical marijuana, and Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics spokesman Mark Woodward told The Associated Press the agency opposes the effort.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Joe Dorman On Front Lines Of Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Effort
Author: Brian Hardzinski
Contact: KGOU
Photo Credit: David Trawin
Website: KGOU
