Pubdate: Tue, 17 Jun 2014
Source: El Dorado News-Times (AR)
Copyright: 2014, El Dorado News-Times
Contact:  http://www.eldoradonews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2280
Note: Texarkana Gazette editorial
Page: 4A
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

ARKANSAS COULD BE FIRST STATE IN SOUTH TO DECIDE ON LEGALIZATION OF 
POT FOR RECREATIONAL USE

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 derived 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 537,989 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 pis simply not enough regulatory 
oversight in the proposal, nor is there 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: Jay Bergstrom