LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK/KAIT) – A group advocating for the legalization of adult recreational marijuana used submitted thousands of signatures to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office.
According to content partner KARK, a lawyer for the group said he thinks an amendment will be on the ballot in November.
Responsible Growth Arkansas claimed it submitted more than 193,000 signatures, KARK said.
Under Arkansas law, at least slightly more than 89,000 valid signatures are required. Once they are verified, the proposed amendment goes before the Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners, who will then decide whether to approve the ballot addition.
“We’re confident in our signatures and our amendment,” said Steve Lancaster, Responsible Growth Arkansas’ counsel.
The proposed amendment would limit sales only to adults 21 and older. It would also limit the number of licenses to 20 cultivators and 120 dispensaries in Arkansas, as well as prohibit advertising and packaging designed to appeal to children.
Lancaster said no at-home plant growth would be allowed under the amendment, with the group saying it would “bring needed funds and jobs to our state”.
Other advocacy groups, however, claim Responsible Growth Arkansas is attempting to monopolize the industry.
Arkansas NORML is a group collecting signatures for the 2024 ballot. The group’s treasurer, Melissa Fults, said it is “the only people-oriented option”.
“Their [amendment] is horrible,” she said.
Fults said the NORML amendment would expunge marijuana felony records and allow for small at-home growth for people who cannot afford to pay inflated prices.
“When you control the industry, you can set the prices to whatever you want to and make people pay it,” she said. “It would also destroy the medical industry we worked so hard to build.”
Fults told KARK that NORML would likely file a lawsuit against Responsible Growth Arkansas if the amendment is approved by the board.
Lancaster said he anticipates challenges but does not think they will prevent ballot access.
“I think come November, we’ll pass this thing,” he said.
Copyright 2022 KAIT. All rights reserved.
