Oklahomans will go to the polls this Tuesday, March 7th, to decide whether the State of Oklahoma should legalize recreational marijuana. Laws similiar to Oklahoma’s State Question 820 has been approved in several states with conflicting reports.

It is said the THC in marijuana causes the “high” and leads to addiction, mental illness, violence, crime, traffic deaths, and many health and social problems. Research linking marijuana use to psychosis and schizophrenia and acts of violence is uniformly ignored by the proponents of marijuana use. Most law enforcement agencies as well as the American Medical Association oppose legalization.

One motivation for legalization is the economic benefits that can come from the regulated commercial availability of marijuana. Increased tax revenues, job growth, and investment opportunities all are powerful incentives to push for legalization. As of November 2022, 21 states allow for personal consumption of marijuana, while 37 states, including Oklahoma, allow medical usage.