Arkansas Medical Marijuana Expansion Proposal Rejected

Arkansans for Patient Access has filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State John Thurston after their proposed ballot measure to expand Arkansas' medical marijuana program was ruled ineligible due to insufficient valid signatures. The group argues that a recent change in state rules regarding the counting of signatures gathered by paid signature gatherers has unfairly affected their petition, which originally exceeded 150,000 signatures but was deemed to have only 88,040 valid ones—short of the 90,704 required. The proposal aimed to broaden the definition of medical professionals who can certify patients, expand qualifying conditions, and extend the validity of medical cannabis cards to three years. This legal challenge follows a similar situation where a proposed abortion measure was also blocked from the ballot over paperwork issues. Opponents of the marijuana expansion are pleased with the rejection, asserting that such measures should not be on the ballot. The case is expected to be reviewed by the state Supreme Court, which will have the final decision on the matter.