Voters will take to the polls today to decide whether the use of recreational marijuana should be legalized in Oklahoma or if it should remain criminalized.

State Question 820 combines legal pot use by adults with criminal justice reforms to address past low-level convictions on marijuana- related offenses.

“Our measure is a responsible and conservative approach to legalization tailored to Oklahoma. State Question 820 carefully balances personal freedom with responsible regulation. Products will be labtested, labeled, tracked from seed-to-sale; and employers will be able to maintain a drug-free workplace,” the “Yes on 820” website states.

SQ 820 proposes a 15% sales tax on marijuana to fund critical programs. According to the ballot, revenues will fund implementation of the law, and any surplus revenues will go 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%).

School administrators from across the state, including Matt Posey, Superintendent of Bethel Public Schools, gathered at the state capitol Monday to encourage a no vote on SQ 820.

“Speaking as an Oklahoma citizen, I’m deeply concerned about the possibility of legalizing recreational marijuana and its potential impact on Oklahoma students and education. Teen marijuana use is already a major concern, and I anticipate that recreational legalization will only exacerbate the current problems by dramatically increasing accessibility,” Posey said.

Polls will be open 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. today. The state election board says lines at the polls are typically longest before work, during the lunch hour, and after work. All eligible voters in line by 7 p.m. will be permitted to vote.

All voters should verify their polling place before heading to the polls, which can be done via the online OK Voter Portal (go to oklahoma. gov/elections and follow the link), by contacting the Seminole County Election Board at (405) 257-2786 or the State Election Board at (405) 521-2391. A sample ballot is available on the portal.

Oklahoma law requires every voter who votes in person to show proof of identity before receiving a ballot. Some voters may also be required to confirm their address before being issued a ballot. There are three ways to show proof of identity (only one is required): show a valid photo ID issued by the federal, state, or tribal government; show the free voter identification card issued by the County Election Board; or sign an affidavit and vote a provisional ballot. (If the information on the affidavit matches official voter registration records, the ballot will be counted after Election Day).

If passed, SQ 820 will go into effect June 5, 2023.