Five reasons to vote “no”

If you support legalizing “medical” marijuana in Oklahoma, as I do, then I strongly encourage you to vote against State Question 788 and demand a better law. Why? Five reasons:

• The law proposed by SQ 788 allows almost no significant and enforceable restrictions on the use of marijuana and its derivative products. Municipalities are specifically forbidden to restrict retail sales outlets of marijuana. Do you really want a marijuana shop next to your church or park or playground or daycare?

• The statute anticipates little to no revenue benefit for the state budget. A 7 percent tax is allowed only on retail. There is no tax on growers, processors or distributors. No renewal of their low-cost license is ever necessary.

• The very poorly worded Section 6B seems to declare that employers may take no action against any marijuana license holder for using marijuana on the job.

• Because this statute relates to “medical” marijuana, restaurants and other establishments may not restrict smoking marijuana, any more than they can restrict the taking of other medicines in such places.

• SQ 788 does not call for a physician to prescribe marijuana. What is issued is a 2-year license. If I want a license and I’m 18 and live in Oklahoma, essentially any kind of doctor whatever can sign.

SQ 788 is bad law. It will not significantly help Oklahoma and is quite likely to do great harm.

Torrey Curtis, Weatherford