AR: Enough Signatures Submitted to Put Medical Cannabis Legalization on November Ballot
Arkansans for Compassionate Care, a group working to place an initiative to legalize medical cannabis on this November’s ballot in Arkansas, has announced
that they’ve submitted over 110,000 signatures to do just that. This is well more than the 67,887 required to put the measure to a vote, though it won’t be officially place on the ballot until the state verifies that enough of the signatures are valid (from registered Arkansas voters).
“Over the past two years, we’ve talked to tens of thousands of voters across the state,” says Campaign Director Melissa Fults. “Most Arkansans agree it is time to give sick and dying patients safe and legal access to medical cannabis when their doctors think it’s the best treatment option for them, and they will have the opportunity to do it this November.”
If the initiative officially qualifies for the ballot – as expected – and is voted into law, it would legalize the possession and use of medical cannabis for those who receive a recommendation from a physician. State-licensed cultivation centers and retail dispensaries would be authorized, and those who live over 20 miles from a dispensary would be allowed to cultivate up to five plants.
Arkansas for Compassionate Care is the group behind a 2012 medical cannabis legalization initiative that was narrowly defeated in the general election (receiving 48.56% of the vote).
According to polling released in September, 84% of voters in Arkansas support legalizing medical cannabis.