After three attempts in two years, a measure to legalize medical marijuana in Oklahoma is now one step closerto being on the November ballot, but what’s next?
Organizers will have to face more challenges before the measure is officially an option for voters.
Board member Chip Paul is preparing for the next step.
“We could get challenged, so someone could say we don't believe you gathered as many signatures as you say you do.”
According to the state, the signatures now head to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, who will determine whether they're enough for November. They must also get a stamp of approval from Attorney General Scott Pruitt before heading back to the public for any challenge of the petition.
“We're pretty sure that we're solid. It would have to be a 10 percent error rate on our last 10,000 signatures and that just doesn't happen.”
For one Broken Arrow resident, Linnea Wells, it’s a battle worth fighting. Wells suffers from incurable gastroparesis and takes more than twenty medications a day.
“There’s not many options for me, and to have another option would mean the world to me,” said Wells.
She hopes the process that usually takes several weeks will sail by and so do thousands of volunteers who are confident that it’s finally Oklahoma’s time to vote on the measure.
“Every single person here in our organization just killed it because they care about this issue.”
If no one publicly contests the petition, that's when Mary Fallin will officially put it on the ballot, however, any type of challenge could force the initiative to miss the November 2016 deadline.
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