The Oklahoma legislature will consider legalization of marijuana during the 2014 session. If passed, the bill would effectively nullify the unconstitutional federal prohibition on the plant.

On Feb. 3, Senator Constance N. Johnson (D-48) filed SB2116. If passed, the bill would effectively legalize the sale of marijuana in OK. Under the law, anyone age 21 or older would be able to possess up to 1 oz. and five plants. The newly legal market would be regulated by the State Board of Health.

“As taxpayers, we’re spending over $30 million each year policing, jailing and incarcerating our citizens on marijuana-related offenses. Yet marijuana is almost universally available. It’s time for a smarter approach,” Sen. Johnson said in a Jan. 28 KTUL report about her new bill.

Passage of the bill would symbolize another domino falling toward nullification of marijuana prohibition, one of the federal government’s most glaring policy failures. Since Washington and Colorado decided to legalize it through ballot initiatives in 2012, the road has been paved for state legislators to take action against marijuana prohibition. Oklahoma is the latest in a growing list of states that are working to nullify the costly federal drug war in various ways through legislation this year. A legalization bill in New Hampshire was even voted affirmatively in the State House of Representatives last month.

Oklahoma has some of the most Draconian marijuana laws in the nation. A first time offender can receive up to one year in prison, and sick people are strictly forbidden from using the substance for medical relief. SB2116 would change these ridiculous, antiquated laws in an instant, and serve as another stern rebuke against unwarranted federal power.

CONSTITUTIONALITY

Congress and the president claim the constitutional authority to ban marijuana. The Supreme Court concurs. But the opinions of black-robed judicial oracles don’t magically transform the meaning of the Constitution. It delegates no power to regulate plants grown and used within the borders of a state. And the so-called war on drugs rests on the same legal authority as all of the other modern-day undeclared wars.

None.

Never-the-less, 21 states had already put the well-being of their citizens above faux federal supremacy, nullified the unconstitutional prohibition and legalized marijuana to varying degrees anyway.

The message? When enough people say NO to unconstitutional federal “laws” – and enough states back them up, there’s not much the feds can do about it.

“The rapidly growing and wildly successful state-level movement to legalize marijuana, either completely, or for medical use, proves that states can successfully nullify unconstitutional federal acts. The feds can claim the authority to prohibit pot all they want, but it clearly has done nothing to deter states from moving forward with plans to allow it, pushed by the will of the people,” Tenth Amendment Center executive director Michael Boldin said.

ACTION ITEMS

For OK Residents: Contact your State Senator and respectfully demand that they support and co-sponsor SB2116 to legalize marijuana, and reject unconstitutional federal laws banning a plant.

Contact your State Representative and urge them to introduce companion legislation in the State House. You can find their contact information by clicking HERE.

For Other States: Call your legislators and demand that they follow the lead of Oklahoma, New Hampshire and other states by introducing a bill that would legalize marijuana. You can find your legislators contact information by clicking HERE.

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