Advocates with Arkansans for Patient Access (APA) last week submitted over 111,000 signatures in support of putting an initiative to expand the state’s medical cannabis program on the November ballot, according to a 5NEWS report.
If passed by voters, the ballot initiative would allow registered patients to grow medical cannabis at home. It would also certify additional health providers including osteopathic doctors, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, and pharmacists to recommend patients for the program, and allow such health providers to recommend medical cannabis treatments to anyone they think would benefit from the program. The initiative also includes telemedicine expansions, permits out-of-state patient IDs, increases the registration period for patients from one year to three years, and removes program application fees for patients.
“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. 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.” — Bill Paschall, APA campaign committee member, via 5NEWS
The medical expansions ballot initiative was initially rejected by the attorney general but advocates updated and resubmitted the proposal. In February, the attorney general approved the initiative for the signature-gathering process.
Meanwhile, cannabis advocates filed another cannabis-related amendment in March — one seeking to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state — but the proposal’s ballot wording was rejected by the attorney general’s office.
Arkansas voters rejected an adult-use cannabis legalization initiative in 2022.
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