Cannabis in Oklahoma
Cannabis in Oklahoma is illegal for all purposes, and Oklahoma is recognized for having some of the strictest laws on cannabis in the United States. Medical marijuana is not legal, but in April 2014 limited trials for medical use of CBD oil were legalized.
Prohibition
As part of a larger trend nationwide to restrict cannabis, Oklahoma banned the drug in 1933.[1]
Medical cannabis
In 2014, Oklahomans for Health circulated a petition to get medical cannabis legalization on the ballot, but failed to gain sufficient signatures. In late 2015, Green the Vote announced that they were beginning a new petition drive to place medical legalization on the 2016 ballot.[2]
CBD clinical trials
In April 2015, Governor Mary Fallin signed into law a bill which allows clinical trials of CBD oil; Fallin emphasized to the press that she does not condone the full legalization of cannabis.[3]
Prosecution
Oklahoma is recognized for having some of the strictest cannabis laws in the nation, and has sentenced persons to life sentences for possession. In 1992, a Tulsa man was given a life sentence for felony possession of .16 grams (.0056 ounces) of cannabis.[4]
Oklahoma's Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs has conducted helicopter patrols to find cannabis grows in 1983.[5] In 1995, a Bureau of Indian Affairs anti-narcotics agent was killed when one of these helicopters crashed after striking power lines.[6]
Legality
DUI penalties pursuant to H.B. 1441, effective October 1, 2013, a person will be jailed for no less than 10 days or more than 1 year if: A person "has any amount of a Schedule I chemical or controlled substance, as defined in Section 2-204 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or one of its metabolites or analogs in the person’s blood, saliva, urine or any other bodily fluid at the time of a test of such person's blood, saliva, urine or any other bodily fluid administered within two (2) hours after the arrest of such person." A second offense will have longer sentencing as well as require an ignition interlock device that can only detect alcohol even if person is not a user of alcohol.[7][8] New penalties for possession or making of hashish, a grinder, or brownies that may include life imprisonment were enacted in 2011.[9]
References
- ↑ Richard Davenport-Hines (10 November 2003). The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics. W.W. Norton. pp. 240–. ISBN 978-0-393-32545-4.
- ↑ "New medical marijuana petition filed for Oklahoma vote". Tulsa World.
- ↑ Philip Ross (30 April 2015). "Marijuana Legalization Oklahoma: Gov. Fallin Signs Bill Allowing Clinical Trials Of Medical Cannabis Derivative". International Business Times.
- ↑ "Reefer Madness". google.com.
- ↑ "Oklahoma Narcotics Bureau Tackles Marijuana Operations From The Sky". Fort Smith/Fayetteville News - 5newsonline KFSM 5NEWS.
- ↑ "Oklahoma Heroes". google.com.
- ↑ "HB 1441" (PDF). The State of Oklahoma. 2013.
- ↑ "Your Oklahoma Pot Rights".
- ↑ "Oklahoma life-for-hash bill signed, also includes life-for-brownies or grinders". NORML Foundation. 2011.