Medical Marijuana Supporters Working Against Deadline To Get Signatures

The push for medical marijuana is coming down to the wire.

Tuesday, August 12th 2014, 8:15 pm

By: News 9


The push for medical marijuana is coming down to the wire.

Organizers and volunteers have been collecting signatures for the past three months, hoping to get the issue on the November ballot.

With some pun intended, the organizers call this petition a real grassroots effort, standing on street corners and partnering with local businesses. All of them giving a last second effort to gain enough signatures.

"I call them all the time and say, do we have enough yet," Amber Jarvis, owner of Jarvis Liquor in Edmond, said.

While liquor sales are Jarvis' source of revenue, a petition for medical marijuana has been the topic of conversation at the counter for the past 86 days.

"Most of them just smile and say, 'Finally,'" Jarvis said.

There are over 400 signatures and counting on her petition.

"I've had doctors, nurses, dentists," Jarvis said.

Jarvis' friend's child is the reason why she is involved.

2/12/2014 Related Story: Medical Marijuana Advocates Rally At OK Capitol

"It almost brings tears to my eyes that it helps," said Jarvis. "It really helps, and it's natural."

The leader of this joint operation, Oklahomans for Health, hopes to collect enough signatures to put a question on the November ballot to legalize medical marijuana.

"It's been an up and down roller coaster," Zach Seikel with Oklahomans for Health said.

Seikel is a community organizer with Oklahomans for Health, who's deployed volunteers across the state, from street curbs to major events.

"I'm very proud of this state," Seikel said.

Oklahoman for Health is required to have 156,000 signatures. Their goal is about 180,000, but at last count, they've only collected around 130,000 signatures.

The American Medical Association does not endorse state-based legalization but does call for further studies of marijuana.

If passed, Jarvis already has plans to be first in the state with a dispensary license.

"This is going to be huge," said Jarvis. "I hope it gets passed."

Oklahomans For Health must turn in all of its signatures by 4:45 p.m. on August 15.

Oklahomans For Health hopes to have a confirmed official number of signatures a week after they are handed into the state's office.

 

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