Arkansas Supreme Court Crushes Medical Marijuana Expansion Just Weeks Before Election

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Arkansas voters were all set to weigh in on a hot-button issue that could have expanded the state’s medical marijuana program, but the state Supreme Court just torpedoed the whole thing—mere weeks before Election Day. In a shocking 4-3 decision, the court ruled that the measure didn’t fully explain to voters what it would do, and as a result, the initiative was tossed out.

The proposed constitutional amendment wasn’t some small tweak. It would have broadened the definition of which medical professionals could certify patients for medical cannabis. It would have also extended the validity of medical marijuana cards from one year to three. Sounds good, right? Well, according to the justices, the ballot measure didn’t go far enough in explaining its full impact. For starters, it would have stripped the Arkansas legislature of its ability to amend the state’s 2016 medical marijuana law. And that’s a big deal. The court ruled that voters weren’t properly informed about this power shift, which is why the initiative was scrapped.

But wait, there’s more. The court also noted that the measure would have legalized the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for any purpose—if marijuana became legal at the federal level. Critics jumped on this point, saying it could lead to unintended consequences, and the court agreed. While the organizers behind the initiative pointed out that they cited the exact law it would amend, the majority opinion didn’t care. Justice Shawn Womack, writing for the majority, said the ballot title was “plainly misleading.”

Now, here’s where things get messy. Early voting in Arkansas started the same day the court dropped this ruling, meaning the ballot measure was already printed and being voted on. But don’t bother—those votes won’t count. The court ordered election officials to toss out any votes on the medical marijuana expansion.

Arkansans for Patient Access, the group behind the initiative, was fuming after the ruling. In a statement, they called the decision a slap in the face to voters, saying, “It seems politics has triumphed over legal precedent.” The group had already been fighting an uphill battle, having sued the state earlier this year after the Secretary of State rejected thousands of their petition signatures. Despite the setback, they’ve vowed to keep pushing for an expansion of the state’s medical marijuana program.

Not everyone is upset, though. Protect Arkansas Kids, a group that opposed the measure, was quick to applaud the ruling. The group’s director, Jerry Cox, said, “A measure this bad simply has no business being on the ballot or in the constitution.”

This court ruling is just the latest chapter in a broader fight across the U.S. over how cannabis is regulated. While Arkansas has allowed medical marijuana since 2016, the expansion of these laws is often met with fierce opposition. The legal and political battles over cannabis are heating up, especially as more states are slated to vote on marijuana-related measures in the upcoming November election. States like Florida, the Dakotas, and Nebraska are all watching closely.

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