Backers of an initiative petition to legalize recreational marijuana in Oklahoma could clear a key hurdle this week. 

Today, Monday, July 7, is the final day of a 90-day protest period for State Question 837. If no one challenges the initiative petition’s constitutionality by the end of the day, the campaign could be cleared to start collecting signatures within a matter of weeks. A challenge would draw out the process by several months. 

State Question 837 is a constitutional amendment, requiring at least 172,993 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. That’s nearly double the number of signatures that were required for State Question 820, an initiated state statute proposing recreational marijuana question that appeared on the ballot in March 2023. Nearly 62% of voters statewide rejected the measure. 

Proponents of State Question 837 say their initiative petition differs from 820 in several ways, including how the medical marijuana industry is regulated and how tax revenue from marijuana sales is distributed. As a constitutional amendment, it would also be more difficult for the Legislature to roll back parts of the law. 

If cleared for signature collection, 837 organizers would be among the first campaigns tasked with gathering signatures under Senate Bill 1027, which adds several hurdles to the initiative petition process. Two lawsuits challenging the law, filed by primary reform supporters, are pending in the Oklahoma Supreme Court. 

State Question 837 could appear on the ballot in 2026 if everything goes to plan, along with an initiative petition to raise the state’s minimum wage. State Question 836, which proposes implementing a top-two primary system, could also reach the ballot next year. 

Want to check the status of State Question 837 or another initiative petition? You can view that information on the Secretary of State’s website. 

Thoughts, questions, story ideas? You can reach me at Kross@Oklahomawatch.org. 

— Keaton Ross

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