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A ballot initiative to expand access to medical marijuana is poised to garner enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot.
That’s according to Bill Paschall, a strategic communications consultant who is also the managing director of the Arkansas Cannabis Industry Association. He’s helping lead the canvassing effort for the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024.
“The ballot access effort is right on track,” Paschall said. “We are confident 90,704 registered voters will sign a petition to put the Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024 on the November ballot. Arkansans are excited about barriers to access being eliminated and the cost of obtaining a card reduced.”
The proposal would allow patients to grow their own plants at home, expand who qualifies for patient ID cards, remove retail prohibitions on pre-rolled joints and other smokeable products as well as trigger the legalization of recreational marijuana in Arkansas if the drug is federally legalized, among other changes. It would also extend the expiration date on patient cards from one year to three years.
Signatures are due to the secretary of state’s office by July 5. Paschall didn’t have a current, rough signature count for Whispers, but he said he felt confident with just over a month to go.
The cannabis proposal is among a handful of citizen-led ballot initiative efforts canvassing the state for signatures, ranging from abortion to public education and government transparency.
The marijuana amendment has a built-in advantage with 38 dispensaries across the state and more than 102,000 registered patients who are mostly eager to sign.
“It’s given us a base to help start, but it’s not enough to get us over,” Paschall said.
“}]] A ballot initiative to expand access to medical marijuana is poised to garner enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. Read More