Petition Drive Marks Start Of Medical Marijuana Fight

Wednesday, May 28th 2014, 6:16 pm

By: News 9

Signatures are being collected in hopes of legalizing medical marijuana in Oklahoma.

At a kickoff petition drive Wednesday, supporters called on lawmakers to join their cause to allow voters to decide the issue.

Dozens of people gathered on the south steps of a quiet Capitol Building Wednesday afternoon. A few people arrived as early 10:30 a.m. Many of those in attendance made the trip to Oklahoma City from the Tulsa area.

Disabled veteran Eldon Lunsford of Nowata recently returned home from Denver's 420 Rally. Lunsford told News 9 he can't wait to return to his "mile high."

"[The VA] had me on morphine [and] Oxycodone," said Lunsford.

Lunsford and other supporters told News 9 they are determined, but they know they have an uphill battle against a conservative legislature and governor.

Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics officials said there are many approved drugs that are safer and more effective than marijuana. They also argued that many people will simply claim to be sick as an excuse to get high.

Derek Workman disagreed. He's been convicted on drug charges and doesn't understand why the legality questions are such a big deal.

"It's natural," said Workman. "It's a better pain reliever than anything else."

The group needs to gather 160,000 signatures in the next three months in order to succeed in putting the measure on a ballot.