BA Patient Devastated By Medical Marijuana Ballot Delay Tells Her Story

A group called Oklahomans for Health celebrated earlier this month when they got enough signatures to get medical marijuana on the November ballot, but state officials say it wasn’t soon enough.

That means, medical marijuana supporters, and those who would benefit from it, will have to wait.

Linnea Wells suffers from gastroparesis – her stomach cannot digest food so she’s constantly sick, dealing with constant nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

"Every morning I wake up sick, vomiting, tired," Wells said.

She’s suffered for years, and every day she takes 24 medications.

But recently, Wells learned medical marijuana is an option for patients like her. She tried it and says it works.

"It helps with the nausea, sometimes, because marijuana can cause you to get hungry,” she explained. “So it helps us eat. It helps with the pain, it helps with the depression."

But it looks like Wells will have to wait another two years for the next statewide election to legally get the treatment she needs.

The State Board of Elections will start printing ballots next week and State Question 788, whether to legalize medical marijuana, won't be on them.

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt says Oklahomans for Health will not meet the September 1st deadline to get everything in order for November, saying:

"It's important for the people of Oklahoma to know, regardless of the substance of the state question, the signatures were not submitted with enough time to allow this process to be played out completely."

8/25/2016 Related Story: Pruitt Submits Ballot Title for State Question 788

There is no cure for Wells’ condition - only hope for better treatment.

"I guess I'll keep fighting. That's all you can do with this disease," she said.

The other option is for Governor Mary Fallin to call a special election specifically for the medical marijuana question.

That seems unlikely, however, since a special election would cost the state more than a million dollars.