An Oklahoma lawmaker and attorney are trying to get marijuana legalized in their state. The reason? Incredibly, they say it’s in the Bible.
“We’re putting forth Genesis 1:29 as the basis of this campaign,” Sen. Constance Johnson told KFOR.com. “God created this wonderful, miraculous plant, and we know that it has been vilified for the last 100 years, and it’s time to change that in Oklahoma.”
The verse reads: “And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.’ “
Johnson and attorney David Slane announced Friday the statewide initiative petition to allow comprehensive marijuana reform that would include legalizing medical marijuana and decriminalizing possession of the drug in small amounts. It would require 160,000 signatures from registered voters within three months to appear on the statewide ballot in November.
The senator said they have faced opposition in their marijuana battle, KFOR.com reports.
“We’ve experienced anything from downright disregard to ignoring us to telling us to, ‘Go to hell’ pretty much. And this is where we’ve had to go,” Johnson explained.
“We’re taking this to a vote of the people because we know the people of the State of Oklahoma, in spite of what the policymakers refuse to do, want to have a voice on this matter.”
The petition proposes a $7-per-ounce tax on recreational marijuana—30 percent of which would go to the Department of Education, 20 percent to the Oklahoma City County Health Department and the rest to the general revenue fund.
A Sooner Poll conducted in September found that 57 percent of Oklahomans favored decriminalizing medical marijuana.
Medical marijuana is legal in 22 states and the District of Columbia, but Colorado and Washington are the only two states where it is legal for recreational use.
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