Voters At NW OKC Polling Place Share Why They Voted ‘Yes’ Or ‘No’ On SQ 820

Tuesday is the day Oklahomans can decide if the state's marijuana industry would go recreational.  

News 9 reporter Brittany Toolis talked with State Question 820 voters outside of St. Luke's Methodist in Oklahoma County to talk with them after their ballots were cast.  

While at St. Lukes, eight people were talked to. Two, who did not want to go on camera, said they voted no, six others voted in favor of SQ 820.

“I'm pretty strongly passionate about this. I mean it's been legal in this country far longer than it was ever illegal ," voter JT Pons said..

The six people who were in favor of SQ 820 spelled out a number of reasons for their "yes" vote.

"Just like with alcohol, as long as you're above a certain age you should have access to it," Jeffery Unruh said.  

John McBryde, another person who cast an in-favor vote, said, "I believe our drug laws are archaic. I believe they're draconian. I believe frankly a lot of them are racist."

"It's also going to provide some funding of state services and expungement opportunities," another "yes" voter, Katie Carter, said.

Of the two people who were against SQ 820, one said she doesn't want pot around her kid more than it already is. The other said the industry is basically recreational right now.  

Even those who hope for legal weed believe the current medical industry needs fixing.

"I will be the first to tell you that the management side of this needs some help. There's too much black market left in this right now," "yes" voter and marijuana business owner Bob Morris said.  

The ballot breaks down the route tax dollars will take: 10% for where the sales occurred, 30% to the General Revenue Fund, 10% to courts, 30% to schools and 20% to drug programs.  

Many who voted yes highlighted school funding as one of their big reasons.  

Everyone who cast a ballot at St. Luke's said Tuesday's Special Election didn't take up their lunch hour like November's election.

"Quicker. I was in line for about an hour and a half the last vote," Marry-Anne Davis, who also voted "yes," said. "It is a peculiar day to have a one state question. I think that's intentional and wrong," JT Pons added.

JT is in law school and plans to go into public defense. He said he hopes his "yes" vote helps others in all aspects of the court system right now.

"It'll get it all out. All these petty drug charges gone, and I think it'll help clear out the courts for serious real crime," he said.

If SQ 820 passes, the first legal recreational purchase can be made in 90 days.