Oklahoma’s New Automatic Misdemeanor for Possession of Controlled Substances

In November, Oklahoma’s voters approved changes to the state drug laws that now make possession of controlled substances a misdemeanor charge. State lawmakers moved quickly in attempts to limit the changes’ scope, but so far advocates for change in how the state handles addiction and drug sentences have won out. The old possession statute, which remains in effect until July 1, 2017, requires that people receive felony charges for possession of controlled substances, usually meaning drugs. 63 O.S. Stat. § 2-402. The only exception is a first-time marijuana offense. Under the new statute, possession is a misdemeanor. Voters also approved reallocation...