I have to applaud the strategy thought out here, and it certainly makes sense, but...

I think supporters of this could easily mobilize enough to get out one day to vote for this. Social media is on the side of issues like these, given the number of younger people utilizing social media compared to older.
Start spreading the word around to friends and family NOW, so it's in the back of their minds come August, when you can then remind them to get out and go find a ballot.

This would be a huge step forward for Oklahoma.

But first the required number of signatures have to be obtained. The new medical marijuana petition is expected to be released in August. There needs to be enough volunteers getting signatures in the most populated cities in the state. The Labor Day weekend would be a great time for people to stand at or set up tables at busy street corners across the state, such as on the NE corner of NW Expressway and the entrance to Hefner Lake Park. But will enough people want to do that and during at least some of the following weekends? I don't know.

^^ True, and it's important not to put the cart before the horse.
The signatures have to be gathered first and from there it can be gauged a little more accurately.

That's why I sincerely hope the organizers of the first one (last year) learn from any and all mistakes and push this hard.
I remember it kind of popped up out of no where and caught some people by surprise. I know by the time I had even heard about it there were only a few days left and I checked their calendar and they weren't going to be set up anywhere around Tulsa.

I have become a somewhat stronger advocate for at least medical Cannabis sine the Dean McGee Eye Institute told me yesterday I have glaucoma. Not unexpected as it runs in my Dad's side of the family. Caught it real early so my peripheral vision is still pretty good. Plus I wouldn't mind the option of pain relieve for my CSS other than perc.

Move to Cali duuuuuuuude. That's how we deal with the traffic. Everyone smokes marijuana. ;)

Sorry to about the news though. Hopefully things go alright.

Some Oklahomans really do have to move out of state to get medical marijuana treatment for their severe ailments. Last summer, while gathering signatures for the medical marijuana petition in downtown Stillwater, I was approached by a woman who said her daughter in law had to sell everything and move to San Francisco to get treatment with medical marijuana for her brain tumor and that it was doing her good. The daughter in law's story is here: Kelly?s Story | Kelly's Healing Path (http://www.kellyshealingpath.com/?page_id=9)

“In a report issued by a U.S. government-funded research group tasked with studying drug abuse and addiction, researchers are admitting that marijuana is useful in killing off specific types of brain tumors. The report — coming from a government-backed group with annual budget of over $1 billion — arrives at an awkward time for the administration following an announcement by the Department of Justice this week that it will continue to prosecute medical marijuana cases against individuals in defiance of Congress.”

From: Federal Govt Admits Marijuana Kills Brain Tumors, But You Still Can't Have It | Natural Society (http://naturalsociety.com/federal-govt-admits-marijuana-kills-brain-tumors-but-you-still-cant-have-it/)

One thing I don't like is they said the drops I will be using will change the color of my eyes. I could never leave my Grandsons, so here I will stay. They even called in the head of the department and he confirmed I have onset of glaucoma. Just another thing to deal with.

One thing I don't like is they said the drops I will be using will change the color of my eyes. I could never leave my Grandsons, so here I will stay. They even called in the head of the department and he confirmed I have onset of glaucoma. Just another thing to deal with.

Mel,
Hope they do all the right things. I have experienced some eye problems as well, cataracts in both eyes, but the surgery worked beautifully. But now, I have macular degeneration. Not sure how this is going to work out.
Good luck to you.
C. T.

Thank you CTC. Getting old ain't for sissy's..

I have become a somewhat stronger advocate for at least medical Cannabis sine the Dean McGee Eye Institute told me yesterday I have glaucoma. Not unexpected as it runs in my Dad's side of the family. Caught it real early so my peripheral vision is still pretty good. Plus I wouldn't mind the option of pain relieve for my CSS other than perc.

You might like a book written by Alice O'Leary Randall. Her late husband, Robert, had glaucoma and eventually became the first person in the US to receive government grown cannabis.

I wonder if the latest drugs for glaucoma do a better job than they used to? Whatever, anybody should have the legal right to try cannabis based drugs when conventional ones don't work well for the patient.

I wonder if the latest drugs for glaucoma do a better job than they used to? Whatever, anybody should have the legal right to try cannabis based drugs when conventional ones don't work well for the patient.

The state passed a "right to try" law this year that allows some sick patients (not sure if it has to be terminal) the right to try new, experimental and unapproved drugs. You'd think this would allow pot to save eye sight.

You might like a book written by Alice O'Leary Randall. Her late husband, Robert, had glaucoma and eventually became the first person in the US to receive government grown cannabis.

Pretty sure nobody has gotten any government grown marijuana in decades, not even researchers can get it a lot/most of the time.

The state passed a "right to try" law this year that allows some sick patients (not sure if it has to be terminal) the right to try new, experimental and unapproved drugs. You'd think this would allow pot to save eye sight.

Haven't done any research, but I can pretty much guarantee you that marijuana will not fall in that category, not in this backward ignorant state, even though it should.

Pretty sure nobody has gotten any government grown marijuana in decades, not even researchers can get it a lot/most of the time.

Not quite nobody. There are several long time legal federal medical marijuana patients still left receiving access every month to government grown marijuana for their medical purposes.

Haven't done any research, but I can pretty much guarantee you that marijuana will not fall in that category, not in this backward ignorant state, even though it should.

Probably the state excuse why marijuana can't be allowed is because it's a schedule 1 drug, both federal and state wise. Surely the feds will have to sooner or later remove marijuana from schedule 1, so doctors can freely prescribe natural cannabis based drugs once approved by the FDA . But how long will it take for Oklahoma to follow?

Pretty sure nobody has gotten any government grown marijuana in decades, not even researchers can get it a lot/most of the time.

You're wrong about that. A few remaining legal recipients are still out there.

While it's a federal court ordered case from the 1980s, I don't see how it's fair that a very few people are entitled to using medical marijuana without much fear of arrest from state and federal law officers. Probably a good number of people have been finding out this fact and deciding at least medical marijuana should be legalized in order to be fair to all very sick people, who need to benefit from it.

There's some recent stories about government agencies buying out several acres for "experimental" research on marijuana.
Yes, our tax dollars funding the purchase of land for the exclusive use of the said federal agency and it's supposedly intended use of it to grow, cultivate, and research marijuana... A federally illegal substance.

Makes complete sense, right?

While it's a federal court ordered case from the 1980s, I don't see how it's fair that a very few people are entitled to using medical marijuana without much fear of arrest from state and federal law officers. Probably a good number of people have been finding out this fact and deciding at least medical marijuana should be legalized in order to be fair to all very sick people, who need to benefit from it.

Well, no, of course it's not 'fair'.

Petitions should be out.
Apparently the Tulsa forces have been out at the Tulsa State Fair gathering signatures.

I've read around and have to agree, I usually don't hear/see from the main group driving this until AFTER they've moved along. So, stay on the look out or even get the signatures going yourself. And don't forget to pass it along to friends and family members.

Medical Marijuana Petitions Circulate Outside Tulsa State Fair - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com | (http://www.newson6.com/story/30183195/medical-marijuana-petitions-circulate-outside-tulsa-state-fair)

I'll have to consider helping them get signatures if at the end of the month they can prove to me they mean business by having on hand around 40,000 signatures. Maybe they will put a signature count on line regularly updated. I do hope December isn't unusually cold.

Is this the group trying to get out of state dispensaries and companies legal?

I'll have to consider helping them get signatures if at the end of the month they can prove to me they mean business by having on hand around 40,000 signatures. Maybe they will put a signature count on line regularly updated. I do hope December isn't unusually cold.

Agreed.


Is this the group trying to get out of state dispensaries and companies legal?

I'm not sure. Now that I think about it, i think this is a completely different group driving this than last year, although there should be unity and a shared mission if that's the case.

If you want to help now with the petition:

1.) Go to website greenthevoteok.com. Click on the volunteer link at the top of the page and fill out the volunteer form.

2.) Click on the training link and watch the very short training videos, so you can have the direction you need to collect signatures properly and be the most effective.

3.) Click on the GTV Chapters link and join the chapter nearest to you. You will find a link to each chapter leader's Facebook page beside the chapter so you can easily find them and send them a message that you have completed the above steps and are ready for petitions! If there isn't a chapter leader then send a message that you have completed the above steps and are now ready to help!

Marijuana Use Doubles Among U.S. Adults - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/30317689/marijuana-use-doubles-among-us-adults)

Recently released Gallup poll has approval for legalized marijuana back up to 58%. Old people 65 or older still quite strongly opposed. In U.S., 58% Back Legal Marijuana Use (http://www.gallup.com/poll/186260/back-legal-marijuana.aspx)

Recently released Gallup poll has approval for legalized marijuana back up to 58%. Old people 65 or older still quite strongly opposed. In U.S., 58% Back Legal Marijuana Use (http://www.gallup.com/poll/186260/back-legal-marijuana.aspx)

Which are some of the people who could benefit for pain management in my opinion.

Obama needs to reschedule marijuana on a federal level before he leaves office. If a Republican gets in it might not only not get rescheduled, but the new administration may crack down on states that have opted to legalize it.

I wonder what those #s would look like if they could account for the opinions of the people currently serving a non violent drug related prison sentence.

Obama needs to reschedule marijuana on a federal level before he leaves office. If a Republican gets in it might not only not get rescheduled, but the new administration may crack down on states that have opted to legalize it.

This is something the States should have the reserved power to override and be able to turn their back on archaic federal laws, such as CO, OR, WA, CA, etc. are doing. Don't hold your breath regarding Obama, he very well may, but at the end of the day, he's beholden to the same forces as his predecessors and his record proves it.

Green The Vote Oklahoma in Tulsa, Ok (http://www.greenthevoteok.com/)

Bumping, saw the first stand out off of a busy intersection today, unfortunately no one was signing as a I drove by.

If this is something you support, go to the link Plu provided above and find your nearest host site.

Tell friends and family, and tell them they're not going to look like pot heads for signing these petitions!!! I'm afraid too many people are afraid of signing for fear of backlash.

Bumping, saw the first stand out off of a busy intersection today, unfortunately no one was signing as a I drove by.

If this is something you support, go to the link Plu provided above and find your nearest host site.

Tell friends and family, and tell them they're not going to look like pot heads for signing these petitions!!! I'm afraid too many people are afraid of signing for fear of backlash.

Last year I seen a stand at NW Expressway and meridian and there was a police car sitting a couple hundred feet away. I think more than a few people that had plans on stopping and signing the petition just drove right on by.

As of October 28, Greenthevoteok is still lagging on the rate of signatures coming in with around 25,000. They need more volunteers out there. If you volunteer, you might be surprised by how quickly someone will come up wanting to sign after you have stepped upon a busy street corner with the petition and a sign.

Last year I seen a stand at NW Expressway and meridian and there was a police car sitting a couple hundred feet away. I think more than a few people that had plans on stopping and signing the petition just drove right on by.

I signed it on their last go around a couple years ago. There was a manned police car in the same parking lot about 40 feet from the petitioners tent. Struck me as a little odd.

As of October 28, Greenthevoteok is still lagging on the rate of signatures coming in with around 25,000. They need more volunteers out there. If you volunteer, you might be surprised by how quickly someone will come up wanting to sign after you have stepped upon a busy street corner with the petition and a sign.

25,000?? Oh, my... We need 120,000. Well, I'm going to see about volunteering. I've been trying to spread the word, that's what this needs. People need to know this is out there and is a tangible change that we can provide. Secondly, I stand by that I think most people are afraid for what they may be perceived as.

Also, about the cops being posted out, it's no doubt intimidation. Remember, the police departments see a major chunk of funding to their coffers from the state and federal governments for the "war on drugs." So, they're so engrained in their mindset that they're these "warriors" against drugs that ending marijuana prohibition could see them taking a hit (pun intended) financially, although unlikely in the long run.

25,000?? Oh, my... We need 120,000. Well, I'm going to see about volunteering. I've been trying to spread the word, that's what this needs. People need to know this is out there and is a tangible change that we can provide. Secondly, I stand by that I think most people are afraid for what they may be perceived as.

Also, about the cops being posted out, it's no doubt intimidation. Remember, the police departments see a major chunk of funding to their coffers from the state and federal governments for the "war on drugs." So, they're so engrained in their mindset that they're these "warriors" against drugs that ending marijuana prohibition could see them taking a hit (pun intended) financially, although unlikely in the long run.

It would be nice to see them gather 250k-300k. I remember last time around the state threw a bunch out for some reason or another. Better to have a big cushion this time around.

Oklahoma Voter Registration Increases Due to Medical Marijuana P - KTEN.com - No One Gets You Closer (http://www.kten.com/story/30439326/oklahoma-voter-registration-increases-due-to-medical-marijuana-petition)

Bernie Sanders files marijuana bill in Senate - CNNPolitics.com (http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/04/politics/bernie-sanders-legal-marijuana/)

This needs to happen while Obama is still President because if it doesn't, there might not be another opportunity for 4 or 8 years. If this passes, while legal marijuana may still be years if not decades away from being a reality in Oklahoma, it will force states to reconsider their marijuana policy.

I really wish small government conservatives would get behind this. Continuing to support the drug war, at least with marijuana, is the antithesis of small government.

So where will you draw the drug line? If cannabis is legal, what about the next drug up the list?

So where will you draw the drug line? If cannabis is legal, what about the next drug up the list?

The slippery slope argument doesn't work. Cannabis has been shown to be non-addicting in a physiological sense. There have only been a few deaths that have ever come from it and all have been cases of extreme overdose. Alcohol and nicotine are more dangerous, addicting, and easier to overdose on than cannabis.

Can you say the same for other drugs (that are rightfully illegal) like meth, cocaine, and heroin? You can't ban one substance for the sole reason that it could be a gateway to a more dangerous substance when that substance has been proven to not be dangerous.

I just asked a simple question. If you legalize cannabis, where do you draw the next line? Surely those who have an opinion about cannabis have an opinion about other drugs?

I just asked a simple question. If you legalize cannabis, where do you draw the next line? Surely those who have an opinion about cannabis have an opinion about other drugs?

I think three questions should be asked.

1) Is it natural?
2) Can a person easily become physically dependent?
3) Is the cost of prohibition greater than the drug's impact on society if it were legal?

I think if the you can answer yes on 1 and 3 and no on 2 regarding a substance, it should be legalized.

I just asked a simple question. If you legalize cannabis, where do you draw the next line? Surely those who have an opinion about cannabis have an opinion about other drugs?

Alcohol is a drug. A far more dangerous drug than cannabis.

Yes, alcohol is a drug, but I know as many boozers as pot heads, and booze is as natural as pot. We spend as much or more on booze enforcement as pot enforcement.

Yes, alcohol is a drug, but I know as many boozers as pot heads, and booze is as natural as pot. We spend as much or more on booze enforcement as pot enforcement.

You can't grow a booze plant on your porch.

The natural cannabis growing on the river is not the same as the one you grow today either.

We are living in an era that will be viewed as the same as we view prohibition.

Maybe, maybe not. Booze was legal and made illegal, pot was illegal and many want to make it legal. It seems to me, it would be better to work out all the details first, then legalize it, rather than to make it sorta legal, and then work out the details.

What details need to be worked out?

Also, I'm not an expert on this but it was my understanding that pot was made illegal because of the hemp. I haven't really looked into it, so I'm not sure how true that is.

I do know I have smoked pot before and I am also for personal freedom. Pot does nothing to endanger people, so I don't see what the problem is.

I am about as liberal as it gets on this issue. I don't do harder drugs, but what you put into your own body is your business.

what you put into your own body is your business.
Yes, up to the point that it injures others. Alcohol is up to the individual, but driving a vehicle while impaired by it is not.

The late John W. Campbell had an interesting idea, more than 40 years ago: Do away with ALL "morality" laws, but at the same time do away with the cultural rule that people should be saved from the consequences of their (bad) choices. That is, don't bother to treat overdosing at public expense. Let the consequence make its point.

From a purely logical point of view, it would be efficient -- and probably improve the gene pool at the same time. Of course, it'll never happen...

Yes, up to the point that it injures others. Alcohol is up to the individual, but driving a vehicle while impaired by it is not.

The late John W. Campbell had an interesting idea, more than 40 years ago: Do away with ALL "morality" laws, but at the same time do away with the cultural rule that people should be saved from the consequences of their (bad) choices. That is, don't bother to treat overdosing at public expense. Let the consequence make its point.

From a purely logical point of view, it would be efficient -- and probably improve the gene pool at the same time. Of course, it'll never happen...I understand that. There are certain drugs like cocaine and LSD I think should be legalized, taxed, and regulated. I'm probably in a severe minority who believes that.

There are other drugs like PCP, Heroin, bath salts, etc. that I think should be decriminalized and instead of throwing people in prison, they should be sent to mandatory rehab centers.

This might be an extreme point of view, but I think there should be certain cities or designated areas in the U.S. built where almost any drug is legalized. There are quite a few people out there that no matter what you do, they will never leave drugs. Instead of punishing them, I think we should work with them, and if found that after time and time again, they go back to drugs, have a city or town for them and provide them with the tools necessary to become self efficient. There are obviously flaws with that idea that need to be worked out like how they would buy the drugs, how it would be regulated, how they would make money to buy it and so on. But I'm willing to bet it would be less expensive to have some officials regulating it and selling it with taxes then just locking up all these repeat offenders.

Alcohol is a drug. A far more dangerous drug than cannabis.

Amazing how the media and OBN seem so highly worried about the very strong varieties of marijuana, like hash, but nobody is concerned how 190 proof Everclear is readily available in Oklahoma liquor stores, even though if one is foolish enough too drink too much of it, it can kill, or make one very ill.

Yesterday, while gathering signatures in downtown Stillwater, I came across a long time activist couple who signed. It wasn't good to hear them say that back while helping with the petition to ban cockfighting in Oklahoma that two out of state organizations had to come in to make sure there would be enough signatures. I guess it was easy to prioritize and target Oklahoma to ban cockfighting, since it used to the only one of a few states that didn't ban it. Still, what a pity if legalizing medical marijuana in Oklahoma isn't able to rise to the same level of importance as getting cockfighting banned.

Signatures for the petition to vote on legalizing medical marijuana in Oklahoma still aren't coming in at a high enough rate to get the required 124,000 by year's end.

Cannabis has been shown to be non-addicting in a physiological sense.

Ehh, not so fast. I support legalization, but I've seen too many studies to the contrary on that point. It's a smaller percentage compared to other drugs, but marijuana stimulates the endocannabinoid and can cause changes in the brain which can result in addition. The last numbers I saw were like 9%. Higher if folks start smoking in their teens. And this percentage will likely increase as more potent marijuana is developed and people increase the amount of THC they intake.

This is important to note not to argue against marijuana, but because folks who've crossed the line and are abusing it at a serious and dangerous level are less likely to seek help since they see "it's not addictive" often repeated.

Ehh, not so fast. I support legalization, but I've seen too many studies to the contrary on that point. It's a smaller percentage compared to other drugs, but marijuana stimulates the endocannabinoid sand can cause changes in the brain which can result in addition. The last numbers I saw were like 9%. High if folks start smoking in their teens. And this percentage will likely increase as more potent marijuana is developed and people increase the amount of THC they intake.

This is important to note not to argue against marijuana, but because folks who've crossed the line and are abusing it at a serious and dangerous level are less likely to seek help since they see "it's not addictive" often repeated.

Correct. It can be addictive. Paper on it: Probability and predictors of transition from first use to dependence on nicotine, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine: Results of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3069146/)

I think it is 17% in teens and 9% in adults. That is not low. People got to realize everything can be addictive and MJ is not some cure all drug.

I think legalization is fine. I don't really care if people use drugs.

Yesterday, while gathering signatures in downtown Stillwater, I came across a long time activist couple who signed. It wasn't good to hear them say that back while helping with the petition to ban cockfighting in Oklahoma that two out of state organizations had to come in to make sure there would be enough signatures. I guess it was easy to prioritize and target Oklahoma to ban cockfighting, since it used to the only one of a few states that didn't ban it. Still, what a pity if legalizing medical marijuana in Oklahoma isn't able to rise to the same level of importance as getting cockfighting banned.

Signatures for the petition to vote on legalizing medical marijuana in Oklahoma still aren't coming in at a high enough rate to get the required 124,000 by year's end.

I don't really care if weed is legal or not, and I'm not going to take time out of my day to go one way or the other on it.

That right there is why they are struggling.

I don't really care if weed is legal or not, and I'm not going to take time out of my day to go one way or the other on it.

That right there is why they are struggling.
So, no doubt this attitude quite strongly suggests how many people and their family members have been in splendidly good health and so can't possibly relate to the need for medical marijuana. Ever had a migraine headache? You can't imagine what they're like, until you had one. Some people have noticed their migraine headaches cease after smoking marijuana for a while.

So, no doubt this attitude quite strongly suggests how many people and their family members have been in splendidly good health and so can't possibly relate to the need for medical marijuana. Ever had a migraine headache? You can't imagine what they're like, until you had one. Some people have noticed their migraine headaches cease after smoking marijuana for a while.


I think if people were to just approach it in the real manner , which is the majority of people that are for it aren't sick, they just want to smoke pot and get high.....plain and simple , nobody is sick in Colorado.. Just tell the truth people...