Special

Brianna Garcia

Contributing Writer

“I think sports betting being legalized in Oklahoma would be a great extension to what we already have as a great state with sports,” said UCO student and UCentral Media sports reporter Jaden Ford. “With the Thunder being here, having a professional team, I think being able to place a bet in-person would be a complete game changer. With me being in the sports industry and being an ex-athlete, a lot of us have to go travel or use sports apps to bet, and it’s very minimal. It would be huge for us and I think they should pass the law.”

“If passed, Oklahoma would spend some of the money it receives from sports betting to help people who are addicted to gambling,” Luttrell said.

Governor Kevin Stitt is also in support of the bill. He said the money from sports betting would be used to “maximize revenue potential to invest in top priorities, like education.”

According to the Pew Research Center, “Around one-in-five U.S. adults (19%) say they have personally bet money on sports in some way in the last

12 months, whether with friends or family, in person at a casino or other gambling venue, or online with a betting app.”

Politicians have been trying to legalize sports betting in the state of Oklahoma for the past few years, but have fallen short of it passing. This time, however, the bill seems to have few legislators that are opposed, with it passing unanimously through a House Appropriations subcommittee.

election for recreational cannabis coming on March 7

Oklahomans are days away from voting on State Questions 820, a citizens-led ballot initiative that would legalize adult-use recreational marijuana in a special statewide election on March 7.

If passed, Oklahoma will join 21 states in legalizing recreational marijuana for adult use. The state question will also create a process to expunge and, in some cases, resentence minor cannabis-related convictions. In Oklahoma, adult-use and possession is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine for a first-time offense.

According to a 2020 report by the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation, possession of marijuana accounted for 38.2% of adult, drug-related offenses. For juveniles, possession of marijuana was the most common drug offense, representing 79.1% of drug-related arrests.

Supporters of Yes on SQ 820 say that this would end costly marijuana arrests while also boosting the state’s economy with increased tax revenue and jobs.

“We believe it’s an outdated idea to be putting people in jail for something most of the country doesn’t deem as jail worthy,” said Michelle Tilley, Yes on 820 campaign director. “These are minor marijuana offenses that we’re talking about.”

Under SQ 820, there would be a 15% tax imposed on all sales of recreational marijuana. This tax won’t apply to medically licensed patients. According to Tilley, the collected tax money will be allocated to public education and other government programs.

“That money is going to be directed straight towards schools, drug treatment programs, health care, local government,” Tilley said. “And we should be collecting those taxes.”

Oklahoma is estimated to gain $821 million dollars in combined recreational and medical taxes if SQ 820 passes, according to an economic impact and tax analysis study conducted by Vicente Sederberg LLP and the Oklahoma Cannabis Industry Association.

Some opponents of SQ 820 are concerned that recreational marijuana would create more issues than it seeks to solve, including more substance abuse issues, a risk to child safety, and a “Big Marijuana” industry that would increase crime and encourage black-market marijuana operations.

A group of community, business and law enforcement leaders filed papers with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission earlier this month to form a campaign against SQ 820. Former Gov. Frank Keating is listed as the chairman of the organization, Protect Our Kids No 820.

The major concern legalization opponents have with recreational marijuana is how it might negatively impact the youth, possibly resulting in an increase in marijuana overdoses in children and substance abuse issues in adolescents.

“We’re seeing more and more overdoses in children,” Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said at a League of Women Voters forum earlier this month. “With recreational marijuana, it’s such things now as these gummies and pot-laced Pop-Tarts they’re calling them ‘pot tarts’ and other child-oriented market ploys, we’re seeing an increase in children, babies, that are having access to these things and an increase in reports to poison control.”

The No 820 campaign did not respond to interview requests in time for publication.

Brooke Montoya, a Substance Abuse Studies professor, said the passage of SQ 820 would be beneficial in providing a safe and regulated way for adults to use cannabis.

“I think it may bring some safety and some regulation to it, because marijuana purchased just by anybody could have lots of different things put into it… and you have no idea where that came from,” Montoya said.

Oklahomans legalized medical marijuana with over 56% “yes” votes in 2018. As it stands, Oklahoma has one of the most open medical marijuana programs in the country.

Early voting will be on Thursday, March 2 and Friday March 3 from 8am to 6pm.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 7. For information on voting locations, visit the Oklahoma Voters Portal at oklahoma. gov/elections/ovp.html.