The absentee ballot deadline for the March 7 state question election is approaching. Absentee ballot requests must be received no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20.

On March 7, voters will take to the polls to approve or reject State Question 820, the legalization of recreational marijuana use in Oklahoma.

Voters can request absentee ballots using the OK Voter Portal. Applications can also be downloaded from the State Election Board website and mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered to the County Election Board. Contact information for the county election boards is available on the State Election Board website.

Locally, SQ 820 is the only issue on the ballot, which reads as follows: “This measure creates a state law legalizing recreational use marijuana for persons 21 or older. Marijuana use and possession remain crimes under federal law. The export of marijuana from Oklahoma is prohibited. The law will have a fiscal impact on the State. The Oklahoma Tax Commission will collect a 15% excise tax on recreational use sales, above applicable sales taxes. Excise tax revenues will fund implementation of the law, with any surplus revenues going to public school programs to address substance abuse and improve student retention (30%), the General Revenue Fund (30%), drug addiction treatment programs (20%), courts (10%), and local governments (10%). The law limits certain marijuana- related conduct and establishes quantity limits, safety standards, restrictions, and penalties for violations. A local government may prohibit or restrict recreational marijuana use on the property of the local government and regulate the time, place, and manner of the operation of marijuana businesses within its boundaries. However, a local government may not limit the number of, or completely prohibit, such businesses. Persons who occupy, own, or control private property may prohibit or regulate marijuana-related conduct, except that a lease agreement may not prohibit a tenant from lawfully possessing and consuming marijuana by means other than smoking. The law does not affect an employer’s ability to restrict employee marijuana use. For the first two years, marijuana business licenses are available only to existing licensees in operation one year or more. The law does not affect the rights of medical marijuana patients or licensees. The law requires resentencing, reversing, modifying, and expunging certain prior marijuana-related judgments and sentences unless the State proves an unreasonable risk to a person. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority is authorized to administer and enforce the law.”

Voters with questions should contact their County Election Board or the State Election Board at info@elections. ok.gov or (405) 521-2391. The Seminole County Election Board may be reached at (405) 257-2786.