Decriminalizing Marijuana

Oklahomans have voted to make medical marijuana legal, as have those in many other states. It’s time to update federal law.

The people of Oklahoma have spoken, as have those in many other states, and voted to make medical marijuana legal. Since then, our state law and administrative rules have become so burdensome, the state is actually working against Oklahoma’s most booming industry. It’s time to update our antiquated federal law and resolve decades-old conflict in law problems that continue to plague Oklahoma. Abby will work to decriminalize marijuana.

The Controlled Substances Act was signed into law in 1970, designating marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it has no medicinal value. This is the same designation as heroin. Forty years later, marijuana is consumed to treat medical conditions, often when traditional medicines fail. This is both a public health issue and a dollars and cents issue. People are already consuming these products; we must introduce federal regulation to protect the health and safety of the public.

On the financial side, this is a $9 billion dollar industry, yet only 30 percent of distributors have a bank account. When we decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, we can begin to address the banking mess we’re in. Entrepreneurs will no longer have to do their business in cash, which is dangerous and unsustainable.