Advocates with Arkansans for Patient Access (APA) have submitted more than 111,000 signatures in support of placing an initiative to expand Arkansas’s medical cannabis program on the November ballot, according to a report by 5NEWS.
If approved by voters, the ballot initiative would allow registered patients to cultivate medical cannabis at home. It would also expand the certification of health providers eligible to recommend medical cannabis, including osteopathic doctors, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, and pharmacists. These providers would be authorized to recommend medical cannabis treatments to any patient they believe would benefit. Additionally, the initiative proposes expansions in telemedicine services, recognition of out-of-state patient IDs, an increase in patient registration validity from one year to three years, and the elimination of application fees for patients.
“Our canvassers encountered strong support from voters eager to see this amendment on the ballot, which aims to improve access and affordability of medical marijuana cards. We look forward to educating Arkansans statewide about this initiative and the medicinal benefits of marijuana as we approach the fall.” — Bill Paschall, APA Campaign Committee Member, via 5NEWS
Initially rejected by the attorney general, the medical expansions ballot initiative underwent revisions and resubmission, ultimately gaining approval for the signature-gathering process in February.
In a separate move, cannabis advocates filed another amendment in March aimed at legalizing adult-use cannabis in Arkansas. However, the attorney general’s office rejected the proposed ballot wording for this initiative.
Notably, Arkansas voters previously rejected an adult-use cannabis legalization initiative in 2022.
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