Two justices on the Arkansas Supreme Court have recused themselves from deciding the medical marijuana ballot battle case that’s before the court.According to court records, Chief Justice John Kemp and Associate Justice Courtney Hudson submitted recusal letters that did not state any reason for stepping aside from the latest lawsuit.Arkansas for Patient Access filed the lawsuit against AR Secretary of State John Thurston after Thurston ruled the organization did not follow proper election laws when submitting newly signed petitions, claiming the proposed medical marijuana expansion amendment did not have enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.Gov. Sarah Huckabee-Sanders appointed Bilenda Harris-Ritter as a special justice to temporarily serve in Kemp’s place.Harris-Ritter is a lawyer who was appointed by the Republican Party to serve on the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners.As of Friday evening, a second appointment to the court has not yet been named.The Arkansas Supreme Court issued a preliminary injunction in the lawsuit over the medical marijuana amendment and ordered the secretary of state to verify signatures.”The Arkansas secretary of state is ordered to immediately begin verifying the (~18,000) remaining signatures submitted during the cure period until the 90,704 threshold or just beyond is met,” the order read.The ordered also set a deadline of Monday, Oct. 7, at noon for all parties to file briefs.The group Arkansans for Patient Access filed the lawsuit Tuesday.On Monday, the Arkansas secretary of state said some of the signatures the group turned in were invalid, and the group was short of the required number of valid signatures to get onto the ballot.The suit claims the group had the required number of valid signatures.Medical marijuanaIn 2016, Arkansas voters approved a medical marijuana program. This amendment would expand that program.The amendment would have allowed more medical professionals to certify patients for medical cannabis. It would also allow marijuana card certification to be done over a telemedicine appointment.The amendment would have extended the validity of patient cards from one to three years, eliminating the need for annual medical certifications and card fees, thereby reducing patient costs.It would have also made it legal for patients to grow and process their own marijuana, up to one ounce.
Two justices on the Arkansas Supreme Court have recused themselves from deciding the medical marijuana ballot battle case that’s before the court.
According to court records, Chief Justice John Kemp and Associate Justice Courtney Hudson submitted recusal letters that did not state any reason for stepping aside from the latest lawsuit.
Arkansas for Patient Access filed the lawsuit against AR Secretary of State John Thurston after Thurston ruled the organization did not follow proper election laws when submitting newly signed petitions, claiming the proposed medical marijuana expansion amendment did not have enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee-Sanders appointed Bilenda Harris-Ritter as a special justice to temporarily serve in Kemp’s place.
Harris-Ritter is a lawyer who was appointed by the Republican Party to serve on the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners.
As of Friday evening, a second appointment to the court has not yet been named.
The Arkansas Supreme Court issued a preliminary injunction in the lawsuit over the medical marijuana amendment and ordered the secretary of state to verify signatures.
“The Arkansas secretary of state is ordered to immediately begin verifying the (~18,000) remaining signatures submitted during the cure period until the 90,704 threshold or just beyond is met,” the order read.
The ordered also set a deadline of Monday, Oct. 7, at noon for all parties to file briefs.
The group Arkansans for Patient Access filed the lawsuit Tuesday.
On Monday, the Arkansas secretary of state said some of the signatures the group turned in were invalid, and the group was short of the required number of valid signatures to get onto the ballot.
The suit claims the group had the required number of valid signatures.
In 2016, Arkansas voters approved a medical marijuana program. This amendment would expand that program.
The amendment would have allowed more medical professionals to certify patients for medical cannabis. It would also allow marijuana card certification to be done over a telemedicine appointment.
The amendment would have extended the validity of patient cards from one to three years, eliminating the need for annual medical certifications and card fees, thereby reducing patient costs.
It would have also made it legal for patients to grow and process their own marijuana, up to one ounce.
“]] Gov. Sanders appointed the Republican-nominated state election commissioner to fill one of the vacancies on the court.
