Oklahoma law bans marijuana use inside vehicles

An Oklahoma law now makes it illegal for anyone inside a vehicle to use marijuana, placing cannabis under the same vehicle restrictions long applied to alcohol.

The law, which took effect Nov. 1, prohibits marijuana consumption inside a motor vehicle regardless of whether the individual using cannabis is the driver or a passenger. State lawmakers said the change was intended to remove ambiguity in enforcement and strengthen impaired-driving prevention.

In addition to the consumption ban, marijuana products must be transported in sealed containers and kept out of the driver’s reach, such as in a trunk or locked compartment. Cannabis that is unsealed or accessible to the driver may be treated as an open container violation.

The restrictions apply to all individuals, including registered medical marijuana patients. Patient status does not allow cannabis use inside a vehicle or operation of a vehicle while impaired.

Transportation safety concerns have increasingly shaped cannabis policy in Oklahoma. In 2024, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a safety alert tied to a 2022 fatal crash in Tishomingo involving a teenage driver who investigators said was likely impaired by recent marijuana use.

State officials have emphasized that the new law is focused on roadway safety and enforcement clarity rather than patient access or possession rights outside of vehicles.