Initiatives easing drug possession classification, providing treatment likely will be on Nov. 8 ballot

Backers of an initiative that would downgrade simple drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor say they have collected more than enough voter signatures to get it on the Nov. 8 statewide ballot.

Members of Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform said boxes they dropped off at the Oklahoma secretary of state's office Thursday contained petitions with about 110,000 signatures for the proposal, and a like amount for a companion initiative.

Each measure needs about 65,000 voter signatures to qualify for the

ballot.

Oklahoma has the highest incarceration rate in the nation for women and one of the highest for men.