Oklahoma AG is intentionally stalling marijuana petition, proponents say

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — State leaders don't want the possibility of medical marijuana on the ballot and are intentionally stalling the process, proponents of the measure claim.

State Question 788 would legalize medical marijuana. Proponents were able to get 67,761 signatures to send it to the ballot, but the process now is being slowed and the measure likely won't appear until 2018.

Attorney General Scott Pruitt submitted the wording for the initiative last week,at the time saying the time crunch was not because of his office, but because the signatures were submitted last minute.

"It’s important for the people of Oklahoma to know, regardless of the substance of the state question, the signatures were not submitted with enough time to allow this process to be played out completely,” Pruitt said.

The group Oklahomans for Healthsay the delays are intentional.

"While my office has done its part by preparing the ballot title well before the September 1 deadline, there are still steps remaining in order for the question to be placed on a ballot,” Attorney General Pruitt said at the time.

But questions about Pruitt's intentions would be fair. Pruitt claimed Colorado should be prosecuted as a "drug cartel" after approving marijuana use in that state, later going to the Supreme Court in an attempt to have it declare the pot legalization unconstitutional.

“The state of Colorado would be prosecuted as a drug cartel if it were based south of the border," Pruitt said in a statement. "This lawsuit is not about whether states are required to criminalize marijuana or enforce federal law. Instead, this litigation is the last resort of Oklahoma and Nebraska – made necessary by the Obama administration’s neglect – to stop the flow of Colorado marijuana into our states,” Attorney General Scott Pruitt said.

Proponents of the medical marijuana petition say it could alleviate pain for thousands of Oklahomans. The proposal does not legalize pot like Colorado's law, but instead only legalizes it after two doctors sign off.

The group is having a rally at the state capitol Tues., August 30 at 4:20 p.m. on the 2nd floor rotunda.