Will Oklahoma voters legalize recreational marijuana?

Oklahomans will decide Tuesday whether to legalize recreational marijuana for adults age 21 and over when they vote on State Question 820 in a special election.

Will Oklahoma become the 22nd state in the nation to approve recreational marijuana for adults or will Oklahoma voters follow Arkansans who rejected recreational marijuana in a Nov. 8, general election? Arkansans said no to recreational marijuana with 56% against and 44% in favor after an initiative petition landed the state question on ballots.

Opinions are split on recreational marijuana, and the vote could be close, said Sean Morehead, general manager of River Valley Natural Health, a medical marijuana dispensary that opened its newest location this year in Moffett, Okla. near the Garrison Avenue Bridge.

"It's been a very split opinion. It is down the middle," Morehead said. "Some people want it and some don't. To me it is unique."

He said he is in favor of recreational marijuana. From a business perspective, medical marijuana dispensaries will also benefit from recreational sales. He said he also hopes State Question 820 passes to expunge some past convictions for marijuana-related offenses.

"It could help some people get their lives back," Morehead said.

He said he has noticed more opposition to recreational marijuana legalization for adults than he did before medical marijuana passed in Oklahoma in 2018.

More:Oklahomans vote on recreational marijuana March 7

Turnout for Tuesday

Yes votes for Oklahoma's special election on recreational marijuana would allow adults to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, 8 ounces of concentrated marijuana, and grow six plants and six seedlings as long as it is out of public view.

Arkansas medical marijuana patients can obtain temporary licenses in Oklahoma. There are 42 dispensaries currently in Sequoyah County, Okla. bordering Fort Smith. Oklahoma has 2,648 dispensaries. There are another 45 in Le Flore County. In Arkansas, there are 38 dispensaries.

Medical marijuana dispensaries in Oklahoma would be allowed to sell recreational marijuana if voters approve Tuesday and charge a 15% excise tax to customers on top of state and local taxes. Currently, medical marijuana patients in Oklahoman pay 7% excise tax plus state and local taxes.

Early voting was Thursday and Friday in Oklahoma.

Sharon Steele, Le Flore County Election Board secretary, said voting was steady at the election board office.

"It (turnout) was better than normal but it wasn't (anything) spectacular," Steele said.

Steele said she has been the election board secretary for 10 years and has not worked a special election for a state question. She said she hopes to be busy Tuesday and people will get out and vote.

There were 254 votes cast in two days in Sequoyah County, said Cindy Osborn, election board secretary.

"That was actually pretty good. We started out Thursday with 112 votes. It was steady with people coming in. It was kind of a steady day and Friday was a little bit bigger. People were commenting on it. I thought it was going to be a little bit heavier as far as the total," Osborn said.

Weather is expected to be partly sunny Tuesday in the Arkansas River Valley with chances of storms moving in Tuesday night. She said a number of older voters were able to get out Thursday and Friday for early voting.

Where to vote in Sequoyah County, Okla.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for the Oklahoma special election on State Question 820. There are 25 polling places in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. Here are the polling places for eastern Sequoyah County.

Liberty School, 476490 E. 1060 Road, Muldrow.

Moffett School gymnasium, 701 Belt Street, Moffett.

Muldrow Cherokee Community Building, 603 N. Main Street, Muldrow.

Muldrow High School gymnasium, 715 W. Shawntel Smith Blvd. Muldrow.

Nicut Fire Department, 98758 S. 4750 Road, Muldrow.

Roland Nutrition Center, 801 S. Roland Road, Roland.

Rural Water Department, 2000 E. Shawntel Smith Blvd. Muldrow.

Waylon Jones Complex, 106 Ranger Blvd., Roland.

Where to vote in Le Flore County, Okla.

Polls are open statewide 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are 37 polling places in Le Flore County. Here are polling places in southwest of Fort Smith in northeast Le Flore County, Oklahoma.

Bob Lee Kidd III Center, 101 Pirate Lane, Poteau.

Courthouse Annex, 100 S Broadway, Poteau.

Cross Community Church, 504 S. Pocola Blvd., Pocola.

First Baptist Church of Arkoma, 200 Sicard Ave., Arkoma.

First Baptist Church, 107 Jones Street, Panama.

First Baptist Church, 303 Martindale Lane, Pocola.

First Baptist Church Poteau, 300 N. Witte Street, Poteau.

First United Methodist Church, 15849 Church Street, Cameron.

First Free Will Baptist Church, 501 West Blvd., Poteau.

Fort Coffee Community Center, 16090 Community Road, Spiro.

Mike Mass Civic Center, 22685 Wiles Street, Shady Point.

Trinity Baptist Church, N 532 Street, Poteau.

Tucker Community Building, 15335 Rhino Road, Spiro.

Spiro Civic Center at Spiro Schools, 600 W. Broadway Ave., Spiro.

Spiro Town Hall, 510 S. Main, Spiro.

Sugarloaf Christian Fellowship, 35204 Midway Road, Poteau.

Unite Church, 19040 Oakwood Street, Spiro.

Victory Worship Center, 23725 U.S. 271, Spiro.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Oklahoma vote on recreational weed is Tuesday