Pubdate: Sat, 10 Aug 2013
Source: Sentinel-Record, The (AR)
Copyright: 2013 The Sentinel-Record, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.hotsr.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1539
Author: Jeannie Nuss, The Associated Press
Page: 2A

ARKANSAS VOTERS COULD SEE MULTIPLE MARIJUANA PROPOSALS

LITTLE ROCK (AP) - Arkansas voters could see multiple attempts to
legalize medical marijuana on the ballot next year.

Two groups are vying to put similar proposed initiated acts before
voters in 2014 after a push to legalize medical marijuana narrowly
failed in the November 2012 general election.

This week, a measure from a group called Arkansans for Responsible
Medicine moved a step closer to voters when Attorney General Dustin
McDaniel certified its popular name and ballot title. That
organization can now begin gathering signatures in an effort to
qualify for a spot on next year's ballot.

Another group, Arkansans for Compassionate Care 2014, hopes to start
collecting signatures soon, too.

Both groups need 62,507 signatures in order for their proposals to be
eligible for the ballot.

For now, Arkansans for Compassionate Care 2014 is working on a revised
proposal after McDaniel on Tuesday rejected a request to certify the
group's ballot title and popular name. Spokeswoman Shannon Steece said
the organization plans to address what McDaniel called ambiguities and
resubmit another similar measure.

The proposals from both groups would allow patients with qualifying
conditions to purchase marijuana from nonprofit dispensaries. However,
unlike last year's proposal and the current one from Arkansans for
Compassionate Care 2014, the proposal from Arkansans for Responsible
Medicine would not allow certain patients to grow their own marijuana.

David Couch, legal counsel for Arkansans for Responsible Medicine,
said the so-called "grow-your-own" provision was a sticking point
with some voters last year.

"There's just no way to adequately address or deal with someone who
grows it in their own house," Couch said. "It's impossible to regulate
what you've got growing in your backyard or in your kitchen."

Couch, who worked with Arkansans for Compassionate Care last year,
said he doesn't envision joining forces with that group this year.

"I think that if there are two proposals and there are two campaigns
on the ballot, I think the discussion about medical marijuana will
actually drive more people to the poll to vote on this particular
issue because ... it is medicine and it should be regulated," Couch
said.

Jerry Cox, the founder and president of the conservative Little Rock-
based Family Council, disagreed.

"This is not about medicine," Cox said. "It's about legalizing
marijuana."

Cox, who opposes the marijuana-related proposals, said he's not sure
how the possibility of having multiple marijuana issues on the ballot
would play out.

"On the one hand, one might say, ' Well, if the pro-marijuana people
start to argue among themselves, does that hurt their ability to get
their measure passed?"' Cox said. "On the other hand, if marijuana is
in the news more and more, does that get more people out to vote for
it or does it energize people that are against it? I just don't know
the answer to that."

A third group, Arkansans For Medical Cannabis, is awaiting a decision
from McDaniel after it resubmitted a revised proposed constitutional
amendment to legalize marijuana.

That proposal - unlike the two proposed initiated acts - calls for
ending a prohibition on the cannabis plant, not just legalizing
medical marijuana.

Amendments need 78,133 signatures to be eligible for the ballot.
McDaniel must first certify the measure's ballot title and popular
name before the group could begin collecting signatures.

Some, including Couch, doubt that Arkansans For Medical Cannabis's
proposal will make it on the ballot, but spokesman Robert Reed said
he's confident that the measure will reach voters.

"I honestly believe that once we're approved by the attorney general
and we jump through those hoops that we will have absolutely no
problem getting it on the ballot," Reed said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt