A group known as Arkansans for Patient Access has now turned in more than 38,000 additional signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office on Friday, August 30, to put a measure on the November 5, 2024 ballot. Their proposed constitutional amendment would broaden access to medical marijuana in Arkansas, for those over 21.
Back on July 5, the group submitted more than 108,000 signatures, well over the 90,704 signatures required to qualify. But, as Josie Lenora with Little Rock Public Radio reports, not all of the signatures were deemed valid. The Secretary of State’s office staff verified that 77,000 signatures were from registered voters. By law, since the group had more than 75% of the required number of signatures, they were granted a 30-day extension.
In 2016, voters approved the legalization of medical marijuana in Arkansas for patient treatment of cancer, HIV, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and PTSD. The proposed constitutional amendment would expand access for virtually any medical condition or illness. If approved, the amendment would also replace the word “physician” with “health care practitioner.” This provision would make it easier to obtain a medical marijuana prescription.
As Lenora explained, the law would also extend access to non-Arkansas residents. An out-of-state citizen could get a medical marijuana card. Current law calls for the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) to issue such a card yearly, after a doctor prescribes the drug. The new measure would change the renewal requirement to three years at a cost of $50.
According to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), the first of the state’s 37 current dispensaries opened in May 2019. A DFA spokesman says more than $1.1 billion dollars has been spent on medical marijuana overall in the last five years. There are 106,322 active MMJ patient cards in Arkansas as of August 30, 2024 according to the state’s health department website.
