Oklahoma State Question 837, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2026)

Oklahoma State Question 837, Marijuana Legalization Initiative
Election date November 3, 2026
Topic Marijuana laws
Status Pending official review
Type Constitutional amendment	Origin Citizens

Oklahoma State Question 837, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative may appear on the ballot in Oklahoma as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 3, 2026.

The ballot initiative would amend the constitution to permit people aged 21 and older to purchase, possess, and consume marijuana in any form. It would eliminate the 7% tax on medical marijuana and create a 10% tax on marijuana sales in the state. It would establish homegrow rights to allow individuals to own up to 12 personal marijuana plants. The initiative would also mandate a right to privacy in marijuana use, such that individuals could not be denied housing or employment due to their marijuana use. The initiative addresses limitations to marijuana use, such as a restriction on driving under the influence of marijuana or marijuana use in public places.

Text of the measure

Ballot title

The official ballot title is as follows:

“

This Act amends the Oklahoma constitution to allow persons twenty-one ( 21 ) years of age or older to purchase and consume cannabis, hemp and marijuana . This Act establishes individual possession, general protection, privacy, impairment testing, employment, medical care, parental, licensure, firearms, due process, equal protection, and homegrow rights for both medical marijuana patients rights and persons twenty-one ( 21 ) years of age or older. This Act requires lawmakers and agencies to limit and regulate existing and new business licenses. This act has a fiscal impact. This Act eliminates the current 7% excise tax on medical marijuana and imposes a 10% excise tax on marijuana sales to persons 21 years of age or older. The revenue of that tax is divided between state, county and municipal governments based on the locations where retail sales occur. Upon federal legalization of marijuana, this Act allows for the export of marijuana and establishes a 3% export tax for marijuana sold outside the state of Oklahoma. This Act provides for judicial review, severability; and becomes effective upon passage with time provided for implementation. Shall the proposal be approved? For the proposal - Yes Against the proposal - No A "YES" vote is a vote in favor of this measure. A "NO" vote is a vote against this measure.

”

Full text

The full text of the ballot measure is available here.

Path to the ballot

Process in Oklahoma

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Oklahoma

An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In Oklahoma, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 15% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

The requirements to get an initiated constitutional amendment certified for the 2026 ballot:

• Signatures: 172,993 valid signatures
• Deadline: Each initiative has its own deadline that is 90 days after it was approved to circulate.

Stages of this ballot initiative

The following is the timeline of the initiative:

• March 31, 2025: Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action filed the initiative proposal as the "Oklahoma Responsible Cannabis Act" with the secretary of state.
• April 4, 2025: The initiative was published by the secretary of state to be accessed by the public.
• April 7, 2025: The 90-day period to protest the constitutionality of the initiative began.
• July 9, 2025: Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action announced that the initiative had passed the 90-day protest period without a legal challenge being filed. They also stated they are set to begin signature gathering by the beginning of August.
• July 21, 2025: The Oklahoma Secretary of State announced that the petition would begin circulation on August 6, 2025 and all signed petition pamphlets would be due on November 3, 2025.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Oklahoma

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Oklahoma.

How to vote in Oklahoma

Poll times

In Oklahoma, all polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Oklahoma, one must be at least 18 years old, a United States citizen, and a resident of Oklahoma.

The deadline for registration is 25 days prior to the election.

“	You can fill out a Voter Registration Application using the OK Voter Portal "wizard." (Be sure to print, sign, and mail or hand-deliver the application to your County Election Board to complete the process.) Voter registration applications are also available at your County Election Board, most tag agencies, post offices, and libraries and can be downloaded from the State Election Board website..	”
—Oklahoma State Election Board

Once an applicant has been successfully registered, the county election board will mail him or her a voter identification card.

Automatic registration

Oklahoma does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Oklahoma has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Oklahoma does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in Oklahoma, you must be a resident of the state.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Oklahoma does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who submits false information commits a "felony punishable by not more than five years in prison, by a fine of not more than $50,000, or both."

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Oklahoma State Election Board allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

Oklahoma requires voters to present identification while voting. Generally, voters are required to present a photo ID, but there is an exception to this requirement.

Valid forms of identification include government-issued photo IDs and county election board voter identification cards (which do not include photographs).

Voters can present a document issued by the United States government, the State of Oklahoma, or a federally recognized tribal government. The document must include the following information:

• Name
• Photograph
• Expiration date that is after the date of the election

See also

2026 measures

• 2026 ballot measures
• Marijuana on the ballot

Oklahoma

• Oklahoma ballot measures
• Oklahoma ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Full Text of State Question 837
• Oklahoma Secretary of State: State Questions
• Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action

Footnotes

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