Pubdate: Mon, 09 Jun 2014
Source: Texarkana Gazette (TX)
Copyright: 2014 Texarkana Gazette
Contact:  http://www.texarkanagazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/976
Page: 9A

RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA

Arkansas AG Approves Ballot Title for Proposed Constitutional
Amendment

Come November, Arkansas voters could be the first in the South to
decide whether or not to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Last
week, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel certified the wording of a
proposed state constitutional amendment called "The Arkansas Hemp and
Cannabis Amendment."

The amendment would allow the "cultivation, distribution, sale and use
of the cannabis plant" and all products derive from the plant
throughout the state.

The Legislature would have the authority to regulate, but not ban pot
in the state. Now all supporters have to do is gather more than 78,000
signatures of registered Arkansas voters to secure the proposal a spot
on the November ballot. Not an easy task. But not impossible, either.
Two other ballot initiates regarding legal marijuana could end up on
the ballot as well. Both would legalize marijuana for medicinal
purposes, not recreational.

Back in 2012, Arkansas voters narrowly defeated an initiative to
legalize medical marijuana by a vote of 537,9898 to 507,757-a
difference of just under 3 percent.

A lot can happen in two years. Younger voters-more inclined to favor
legal marijuana-register and older voters-traditionally the
opposition-fall off the rolls.

Proponents of legal pot claim that smoking marijuana can help
alleviate symptoms of a number of conditions, including glaucoma,
multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular diseases, epilepsy, cancer,
asthma and pain in general. Opponents say there is no real medical
basis to any of those claims.

So which side is right? Frankly, we don't know. There is no clear
medical consensus.

For the record we are not in favor of the medical marijuana proposals.
We have looked at other states that have passed such measures and see
more problems that positives. But that's for the voters to decide. As
for the recreational bid, we are definitely against the idea of a
constitutional amendment broadly legalizing "cannabis" and all its
derivative products. There is simply not enough regulatory oversight
in the proposal, nor is their a provision for local option. Basically,
every part of the state would be required to allow legal marijuana.
That's something we don't even do with alcohol.

And that's not a good deal for the people of Arkansas.
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MAP posted-by: Matt