A majority of likely voters in Arkansas are in favor of an initiative to significantly expand the state’s medical marijuana program, according to a new poll. If approved, the measure would let patients grown their own cannabis at home and allow doctors to recommend it for any medical condition they think it could benefit.
As activists await the outcome of a state Supreme Court case about concerning a separate measure—but one that could decide their own campaign’s fate—the Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll found 54 percent of respondents in favor of the proposed reform, while 35.5 percent are opposed and 10.5 percent are undecided.
The survey was released about two weeks after Arkansans for Patient Access (APA) turned in a final batch of signatures for the measure after initially coming up short. Following a 30-day curing period, the campaign said it was confident they made up the difference with a final submission of petitions.
In total, the campaign says it has now filed 150,335 voter signatures from all 75 counties across the state. They need 90,704 signatures to qualify.
If the measure ultimately makes the ballot—which will depend on both an official certification from the state as well as a court case concerning an unrelated anti-casino measure—the survey indicates it may be a relatively close vote.
Jay Barth, emeritus professor of politics at Hendrix College, said Issue 3 “is something of a referendum on the general concept of medical marijuana in place since a 2016 vote by the people.”
“A majority of the respondents in our survey do express support for Issue 3, suggesting a well-funded campaign will be necessary to change the outcome,” he said. “Medical marijuana expansion is particularly popular among the state’s younger voters, among those with college degrees, among voters of color, and among voters who live in urban/suburban areas.”
“Ratification of Issue 3 would, it seems, move Arkansas voters one step closer to full legalization of recreational marijuana in the state,” he said.
The poll involved interviews with 696 likely voters in Arkansas from September 5-6, with a +/-4.6 percentage point margin of error.
The proposal is principally aimed at building upon the state’s existing medical cannabis program, which was created under an earlier voter-approved measure. It would achieve that by making it so healthcare professionals could issue recommendations to patients for any condition they see fit and letting patients grow their own marijuana at home.
Nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants pharmacists and osteopathic doctors would be added to the list of professionals who could make those recommendations. Also, patients wouldn’t need to renew their medical marijuana cards until three years, versus one year under the current law.
—Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.—
Further, the measure includes a trigger provision that would end cannabis prohibition altogether in Arkansas if the federal government enacts legalization.
The initiative would also permit dispensaries to start selling pre-rolled joints.
In the background, advocates are closely monitoring the court case pending before the state Supreme Court. Plaintiffs challenged the anti-casino measure based on a separate earlier ruling that upheld the secretary of state’s decision not to allow an abortion rights initiative on the ballot based on a procedural dispute over submitting signed affidavits showing that paid canvassers were provided a handbook at the same time they turned in signatures.
The state’s medical marijuana law has proved popular since its implementation in 2019, with officials announcing in May that at least 102,000 residents have registered for patient cards, exceeding expectations.
Meanwhile, last August a law took effect in the state clarifying that medical marijuana patients can obtain concealed carry licenses for firearms.
Arkansas voters defeated a ballot initiative to more broadly legalize marijuana for adults in 2022.
Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan.
A majority of likely voters in Arkansas are in favor of an initiative to significantly expand the state’s medical marijuana program, according to a new poll. If approved, the measure would let patients grown their own cannabis at home and allow doctors to recommend it for any medical condition they think it could benefit. As Read More