An attempt to broaden the medical marijuana programme in Arkansas has fallen short of the required number of signatures and will not be included on the November ballot, announced Secretary of State John Thurston on Monday.
The group behind the measure, Arkansans for Patient Access, expressed plans to take legal action to challenge Thurston’s decision after it was determined that only 88,040 out of the signatures submitted were valid, below the 90,704 threshold needed to qualify for the ballot. The proposed amendment aimed to expand the existing medical marijuana regulations approved by voters in 2016. The amendment sought to widen the scope of medical professionals authorised to certify patients for medical cannabis, enlarge the list of qualifying conditions, and extend the validity of medical cannabis cards to three years.
Arkansans for Patient Access had gathered over 150,000 signatures in support of the amendment, but only a portion of them were deemed valid. Despite the setback, the group remained determined to continue advocating for expanded access to medical marijuana, citing the significant support demonstrated through the petition process.
The rejection of the medical marijuana proposal comes shortly after the state Supreme Court blocked another ballot measure intending to restrict the state’s abortion ban. Opponents of the marijuana measure, including the Family Council Action Committee, commended Thurston’s decision to dismiss the signatures and anticipated that the final ruling would be made by the state Supreme Court.
With approximately half of U.S. states permitting recreational marijuana and several more legalising medical marijuana, the landscape could see further changes following the November elections. Florida, North Dakota, and South Dakota will vote on whether to legalise recreational marijuana for adults, while Nebraska’s ballot will feature two medical marijuana proposals.