SB 1027, which took effect last year, imposed county-by-county limits on petition signatures, restricted who could gather signatures, and regulated how petition campaigns could be funded and paid. Its most controversial provision required petitioners to collect a minimum number of signatures in multiple counties, a change that critics said made it nearly impossible for volunteer-driven efforts to qualify for the ballot.

Jed Green, director of Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action, welcomed the ruling as definitive. “They came to the ultimate conclusion that in its entirety, the law should be struck down,” Green said.

Green led State Question 837, a citizen initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in Oklahoma. That effort fell short of the required 172,993 valid signatures, collecting only about 110,000. Green said the retroactive application of SB 1027 created significant hurdles for the campaign, causing delays and confusion.

“By the time that 1027 went into effect, not only us, but the Secretary of State themselves had 30 days to formulate new paperwork, determine what the system was going to be, implement the law,” Green said. “We didn’t wind up being clear on what we could print until three days before we were allowed to start circulating signatures.”

Despite the setback, Green said the court’s ruling opens the door to revisiting the legalization effort. “We know that there is overwhelming popular support for the issue. So, we do have to keep on the table the potential of running another petition,” he said.

However, Green emphasized that his group hopes to work with lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session before pursuing another initiative. “We look forward to taking the next few months to continue our work with the new leadership of our state and see if we can work these things out with the legislative process,” he said.

Green also noted that the federal government’s reclassification of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug earlier this year could influence future efforts.

The ruling is a significant win for direct democracy in Oklahoma, where the initiative petition process has long allowed residents to bypass the Legislature on contentious issues. By striking down SB 1027, the court reaffirms that the right to petition the government is protected under the First Amendment, ensuring that grassroots campaigns can operate without undue burdens.

For communities across the state, the decision means that citizen-led efforts—whether on marijuana legalization, criminal justice reform, or other issues—can proceed under clearer and fairer rules. Organizers now have a renewed opportunity to shape policy at the ballot box, and the conversation around recreational marijuana is likely to continue in the coming months.