Medical Cannabis Expansion: Arkansas Activists Submit Signatures

Arkansas Activists Submit Signatures for Expanded Medical Cannabis and Conditional Recreational Legalization Initiative

July 2024 – Little Rock, AR – Activists in Arkansas have announced that they have gathered more than enough signatures to place a measure on the November ballot that aims to significantly expand the state’s medical marijuana program. The proposal also includes a provision that would automatically legalize recreational cannabis if the federal government enacts broader reform.

Signature Submission

On Friday, Arkansans for Patient Access (APA) submitted 111,402 signatures from 62 counties. The campaign needs 90,704 valid signatures from at least 50 counties to qualify for the ballot. Melissa Fults, spokesperson for the campaign and a veteran advocate from the initial medical marijuana legalization effort, expressed confidence in their progress.

“We’re extremely proud and excited that we were able to turn in today well over the number of signatures that we needed,” Fults told Marijuana Moment. The campaign plans to continue collecting signatures over the next month to ensure they meet the threshold, as Arkansas law permits an additional 30 days to gather more signatures if at least 75 percent of the required signatures were collected initially.

Proposal Details

The measure seeks to build upon Arkansas’ existing medical cannabis program, established by a previous voter-approved initiative. Key elements of the proposal include:

• Expanded Recommendations: Healthcare professionals, including nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, pharmacists, and osteopathic doctors, would be allowed to recommend medical marijuana for any condition they see fit.
• Home Cultivation: Patients would be permitted to grow their own marijuana at home.
• Extended Card Renewal: Medical marijuana cards would need to be renewed every three years instead of annually.
• Recreational Legalization Trigger: The initiative includes a provision to automatically end cannabis prohibition in Arkansas if the federal government legalizes recreational marijuana.

The measure would also allow dispensaries to sell pre-rolled joints, a product currently not available under state law.

Campaign Statements

Bill Paschall, APA campaign committee member, highlighted the public’s eagerness to support the initiative. “Our canvassers found voters eager to place an amendment on the ballot that will eliminate barriers to access and make it less expensive to acquire and keep a medical marijuana card,” Paschall said in a statement to 5 News Online.

Looking ahead, the campaign aims to educate voters about the medicinal benefits of marijuana. “As we move into the fall, we look forward to educating Arkansans all across the state about this amendment and the medicinal benefits of marijuana,” Paschall added.

Current State of Medical Cannabis in Arkansas

Since the implementation of the medical marijuana program in 2019, it has seen robust participation. As of May, over 102,000 residents have registered for patient cards, surpassing initial expectations. Additionally, a law enacted last August clarified that medical marijuana patients in Arkansas could obtain concealed carry licenses for firearms.

Despite the growing acceptance of medical marijuana, Arkansas voters narrowly defeated a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana for adult use in 2022.

Next Steps

With the submission of signatures, APA is focused on ensuring the measure qualifies for the November ballot. The group’s continued efforts to gather more signatures and educate the public on the benefits of the proposed amendments are crucial as they prepare for the upcoming vote.

If successful, the initiative could mark a significant shift in Arkansas’ cannabis policy, expanding access to medical marijuana and setting the stage for potential recreational legalization contingent on federal action.