Voters to decide on recreational marijuana in Oklahoma

Sam Kozlowski

Contributing Writer

University of Central Oklahoma students now weigh the pros and cons of recreational marijuana for the March 7 vote on State Question 820.

Recreational marijuana is used frequently among college students: according to a 2020 University of Michigan study titled Monitoring the Future,.between 43% and 44% of college students used cannabis during the studied year and usage is at an all-time high.

Supporters for recreational cannabis will be present on election day to vote in favor of recreational marijuana, although not without resistance from opponents of SQ 820.

“I think a lot of people would support recreational weed here,” said Logan Wright, student and supporter of SQ 820. “It can help people all over the world, if they’re stressed. Some people who smoke weed every day are more productive than people who don’t smoke weed at all. If you smoke weed and are lazy and unproductive, then you are a lazy and unproductive person when you’re sober.”

Supporters cite that marijuana is well-known for its therapeutic benefits. The drug treats chronic pain, though it does not cure it. It is also used for relieving anxiety, insomnia and stress in many users and approximately 71% of them reported no adverse effects, according to patients in a 2014 study by the Hawaii Journal of Medicine & Public Health, on the therapeutic benefits of cannabis.

If recreational marijuana passes, the state would impose a 15% tax on every transaction. The tax money will go towards public school programs, drug addiction treatment programs, general revenue, courts, and local governments. Recreational cannabis can help those who need medical treatments but cannot afford doctor appointments or the $100 application fee.

With the oversaturation of the cannabis industry, small businesses struggle to compete when their prices are undercut by unlicensed dealers.

The state question has a chance to pass as many people in Oklahoma are in support of recreational marijuana: according to an Amber Integrated poll collected in late2022, 49% of possible voters said they would vote in favor of SQ 820, while 38% opposed the question and 13% were undecided.

Opponents of SQ 820 say that Oklahoma is already struggling to keep up with regulating the huge growth of the medical marijuana industry since its inception in 2018.

The booming cannabis industry puts pressure on natural resources in the state; growing the plant indoors uses inefficient, nonrenewable electrical energy such as artificial lighting, air-conditioning, large quantities of water and industrial fans according to a 2020 legal call to action, Marijuana Industry Meets Climate & Environment Crisis.

“Advocates believe that legalizing marijuana provides more jobs, brings more income to people and diversifies the economy. However, all this could be erased if legalizing marijuana increases the crime rate, increases healthcare costs and decreases worker productivity,” said Dr. Kuang Chung-Hsu, at the

Department of Economics at UCO. Included in resource pressure is the illegal purchasing of land in Oklahoma, which has become a problem recently as the marijuana industry has been a boon for international acquisition. With an already oversaturated market, the industry can be impacted by less-effective drug and safety testing. Although college students today typically support the legality and decriminalization of marijuana, the outcome is uncertain. During the November 2022 midterm elections, only 24% of eligible voters under 30 cast their ballots, while 76% did not vote.