Pubdate: Mon, 28 Apr 2014
Source: Tulsa World (OK)
Copyright: 2014 World Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.tulsaworld.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/463
Author: Barbara Hoberock, World Capitol Bureau

AG PRUITT: POT PETITION FLAWED

Organizers Hope to Put Medical Marijuana on the November
Ballot.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has found
problems with the ballot title of an initiative petition seeking to
let voters decide whether medical marijuana should be legalized.

On April 11, Oklahomans for Health gave notice to the secretary of
state that the organization was seeking to circulate an initiative
petition to get the issue on the November ballot.

The group needs 155,216 signatures to put its measure on the
ballot.

In an April 18 letter to Secretary of State Chris Benge, Pruitt
outlined several problems with the wording of the ballot title.

He said it does not list all licenses authorized. In addition, it did
not explain that marijuana is classified as a non-prescription drug.

It inaccurately states that marijuana is used under a physician's
guidance, he wrote. The ballot title did not explain that medical
marijuana licenses are issued for the applicant's lifetime.

In addition, the ballot title did not explain that it provides for a
tax on the sale of medical marijuana, he wrote.

The proposal calls for a 7 percent tax on the total sale. The funds
would go to pay for the Oklahoma State Department of Health's
regulation of the industry. Excess funds would go to education and
drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

It also did not explain the effect on existing state law and that it
would not affect constitutional, enacted federal law to the contrary,
Pruitt said.

Pruitt indicated that he is rewriting the ballot title to comply with
state law.

"The next step will be for the Attorney General's Office to submit the
ballot title to the secretary of state," said Diane Clay, a Pruitt
spokeswoman. "If it is not challenged and they have sufficient
signatures, it will then be placed on the ballot."

Charles "Chip" Paul, chairman of Oklahomans for Health, said the
organization hopes to gather signatures sometime between May 15 and
June 1.

He said response to the proposal has been overwhelmingly
supportive.

He said hundreds and hundreds of people have expressed thanks that
someone has come forward to sponsor an initiative petition.

Repeated efforts by Sen. Constance Johnson, D-Forest Park, to get
legislative approval for medical marijuana have failed. Johnson could
not be reached for comment.

"The bills offered claim to be medical marijuana, but it is
practically marijuana on demand," said Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa.

The measure lists a number of ailments that could be treated by the
drug, ranging from cancer to severe nausea.
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