A petition to legalize recreational cannabis in Oklahoma is unlikely to progress in 2020. The speed bump has been attributed to a 30-day emergency declaration that was recently-imposed statewide.

The news broke out following an announcement from Oklahoma Secretary of State Michael Rogers. Advocates in the state were disheartened to learn that all initiative-related efforts – including collecting the required amount of signatures – will be postponed for the foreseeable future.

On March 15, Oklahoma’s Governor Kevin Stitt announced the “state of emergency”, at which point Rogers decided to discontinue campaign efforts until the authoritative proclamation is affirmatively withdrawn. The emergency declaration has been set in motion as a repercussion of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has infiltrated 210 countries and territories globally.

While many advocates may feel hopeful that the initiative to legalize recreational cannabis in Oklahoma will gain momentum after the COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end – whenever that might be – some proponents of State Question 807 aren’t so sure. One such example is Ryan Kiesel, who claims that it will be “really difficult, if not impossible, to imagine a scenario in which an initiative petition campaign could responsibly and feasibly collect the signatures necessary in order to make the 2020 ballot if that campaign doesn’t already have the signatures on hand.”

Cannabis supporters refiled petition to legalize recreational cannabis in Oklahoma in 2019

Kiesel originally introduced the ballot initiative alongside fellow proponent Michelle Tilley. The petition to legalize recreational cannabis in Oklahoma was re-filed by both proponents in December of last year. Its refiling was required after debate erupted regarding the negative implications that a legal market may have on the state’s flourishing medical cannabis industry, which launched following a voter-approved ballot measure that passed on June 26, 2018.

Revised paperwork for SQ 807 was filed with the Oklahoma Secretary of State office by Kiesel and Tilley. Included in the re-drafting was an overview of expanded protections for the medical cannabis industry and its registered patients. Things have changed quite drastically since this time, with Kiesel airing his concerns about the ballot initiatives chances of moving forward amid the current global climate.

“It would be irresponsible for anyone to try to collect signatures in this environment. It would put signature collectors in danger and it would put the general public in danger,” Kiesel recently told the Oklahoman.

Deadline for Oklahoma’s recreational cannabis petition will not be extended

Although the initiative to legalize recreational cannabis in Oklahoma has been put on hold, the deadline – August 24, 2020 – will not be extended. This is according to the Secretary of State. In most cases, the time period in which office officials count and verify the signatures usually ranges from 2-3 weeks.

A total of 178,000 signatures must be collected within a 90-day period for the campaign to qualify for the 2020 November ballots. If approved and enacted into law, Oklahoma’s recreational cannabis measure would amend the state constitution.

It’s not just Kiesel who lacks optimism about the recreational cannabis initiative progressing this year. Someone else who is dubious about the chances of SQ 807 gaining the required number of signatures is executive director of People Not Politicians, Andy Moore. He says that the success of any pro-cannabis campaign is “pretty unlikely” this year.

On the plus side, Moore has confirmed that he is collaborating alongside lawmakers to explore prospective options for allowing online signature collections. However, it’s uncertain as to whether or not this will be possible, since reform is heavily opposed by legislative leaders.