Gov. Kevin Stitt wants another vote of the people to 'shut down' medical marijuana in Oklahoma

OG article by Jonathan Greco

February 3, 2026

In his final State of the State address, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt urged lawmakers to place medical marijuana back on the ballot for voters to end the program. Legalized in 2018 via State Question 788 with 56.9% support, it created the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority. Stitt called it a "Pandora’s box," claiming more dispensaries exist than pharmacies and linking it to cartel activity, human trafficking, and foreign criminal influence. He stated the industry is "plagued by foreign criminal interests and bad actors, making it nearly impossible to rein in." Praising regulators like Adria Berry and Donnie Anderson, Stitt argued fixes are insufficient: "We can’t put a Band-aid on a broken bone." He wants Oklahomans to "bring safety and sanity back" by voting to shut it down entirely. The call reflects ongoing criticism from Stitt, who has long opposed the program's scale and oversight issues despite its voter approval. This push could lead to a statewide referendum, potentially reversing one of the nation's most expansive medical cannabis systems.