Oklahoma Cannabis Laws on the Chopping Block: Gov. Stitt Calls for a Revote

Although Kevin Stitt, governor of Oklahoma since 2019, has expressed his concerns regarding the state’s medical marijuana program in the past, he recently officially called for the issue to be sent back to the voters to “shut it down”.

Stitt delivered his final State of the State address Feb. 2, 2026, as his term limits will soon be up. In this speech, the governor grumbled about the Sooner State having “more dispensaries than we do pharmacies,” adding that cannabis retailers “hide an industry that enables cartel activity, human trafficking, and foreign influence in our state.”

Further noting that while regulators and law enforcement have “done incredible work to hold back the tide of illegal activity,” the industry is “plagued by foreign criminal interests and bad actors, making it nearly impossible to rein in,” Stitt said.

“We can’t put a band-aid on a broken bone. Knowing what we know, it’s time to let Oklahomans bring safety and sanity back to their neighborhoods. Send the marijuana issue back to the vote of the people and shut it down.”

Not So Fast: Oklahoma Lawmakers Push Back on Repeal

Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton had initially expressed openness to Oklahoma cannabis laws being amended to repealed status, he now says he’s given it more thought and determined it’d be “really hard to completely undo” legalization and unfair to licensed medical cannabis operators who “invested their life savings into this program” and are “trying to do this for the Oklahomans that need that product—not for recreational, but for actual medicinal purposes… It’s hard to unring that bell,” he said.

“What I’m going to suggest to the governor is that we don’t run a state question on that, but instead we continue to push the regulations [and] we continue to regulate the industry.”

Paxton said he would “give the attorney general’s office credit as well,” as they’ve worked “very hard on it and continue to drive the illegal element out of the state.”

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond agreed with the governor, saying he’d “love” to see the state’s medical marijuana program wiped out, however, he cautioned that doing so would mean reimbursing the hundreds of licensees participating in the market because the state would be “taking” away revenue.

Meanwhile, Sen. Minority Leader Julia Kirt said she’s “not into revisiting state questions,” and lawmakers should “trust the people, and we should actually implement them as well.”

A Look Back: How Oklahoma Cannabis Laws Got Here

In 2018, 57% of voters approved cannabis laws in Oklahoma, a move that Gov. Stitt suggests was the result of citizens being duped by “out-of-state liberal activists.” From the beginning, Oklahoma cannabis laws strayed from what had become the norm in legalization, including no specific qualifying medical conditions or capping on state licenses.

Further surprising was when Oklahoma recreational cannabis laws were blocked by voters in 2023. New regulations were placed in January 2024, and the industry has grown to serve almost 320,000 licensed patients at 1,421 dispensaries in the state as of Feb. 2026.

As recently as Jan. 1, 2026, regulations now require Oklahoma doctors to undergo special training to recommend medical cannabis. Previously, the Oklahoma cannabis laws only required physicians to be in good standing with their professional boards and consider “accepted standards a reasonable and prudent physician would follow” before making a patient recommendation for medical cannabis use.

Oklahoma Isn’t Alone: Other States Where Cannabis Laws Are Under Fire

Cannabis laws in Oklahoma are not the only ones in the U.S. under fire. In Maine and Arizona, campaigners are collecting signatures to place ballot questions before voters regarding legalization laws. If passed, the Arizona initiative would repeal the state’s licensed retail market.

Similarly, the Maine initiative would abolish the state’s regulated adult-use market, as well as consumers’ ability to legally grow personal-use quantities at home.

In Massachusetts, campaigners have allegedly already collected the necessary number of signatures to place a similar repeal measure, titled “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy”, before voters.

The state of Idaho, where all cannabis is illegal and comes with severe punishment, will see a constitutional amendment on the November ballot which, if approved, will forbid voters from ever again having the opportunity to decide on statewide marijuana policies.

What’s at Stake for Oklahoma’s Cannabis Industry

How likely do you think it is Oklahoma cannabis laws will be changed? Do you think the time for Oklahoma recreational cannabis laws has gone forever? Comment below or tell us in person!

Want to stay ahead of the policy shifts reshaping cannabis markets across the country? CannaCon is the nation’s leading B2B cannabis conference, bringing together operators, advocates, and industry experts to navigate exactly these kinds of challenges. Learn more about Oklahoma’s cannabis history and how the state’s market boomed — then join us at our 2026 conferences in June and August.