This past November, State Question 820 was nearly on the ballot, where Oklahomans would have had the opportunity to vote on a proposal to legalize adult recreational marijuana use and possession. Current Oklahoma law states that a person who cultivates marijuana without a medical marijuana card or grow license can be sentenced from 2 years to LIFE in prison, even for a first offense. A person who has possession with intent to distribute is also subject to 2 years to LIFE. SQ 820 would change all of that. In 2012, a Tulsa woman was arrested and sentenced to 12 years in prison for trying to sell a police informant $31 worth of marijuana. Although she was released early, her felony drug conviction has left her impoverished still today. Similarly, at least two District Attorneys in Oklahoma have repeatedly prosecuted pregnant women for using marijuana during their pregnancies, in spite of those women having medical marijuana cards. When asked, Brian Hermanson, one of the prosecutors who has brought charges against pregnant women said, "If they make bad decisions about using drugs while they're pregnant, they're probably going to make other bad decisions when raising the child." According to its text, SQ 820 would also "require resentencing, reversing, modifying, and expunging certain prior marijuana-related judgments and sentences unless the State proves an unreasonable risk to a person." This, in spite of the fact that those arrested, charged and convicted of these crimes knew their conduct was criminal when they engaged in it.
A. Do you support this legislation? Why or why not?
B. Do you think similar legislation should be enacted for other drug-related offenses? Why or why not?