LITTLE ROCK (KFSM) — After the Arkansas Supreme Court disqualified the Medical Cannabis Act, also known as Issue 7, from the November ballot Thursday (Oct. 27), former U.S. attorney and Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate Conner Eldridge released a statement in support of the other medical marijuana measure that is still on the ballot.
Issue 6, known as the Medical Marijuana Amendment, withstood a petition against it earlier this month.
In the statement, Eldridge said he feels Issue 6 is a responsible medical marijuana program for the state of Arkansas.
“As a prosecutor and former U.S. Attorney, I worked alongside law enforcement to fight drug-trafficking and to get drug dealers off the streets. No one has been more dedicated to getting dangerous drugs out of our communities, but even I see the real difference between the work I did fighting drug-trafficking and allowing the development of a responsible medical marijuana program in Arkansas and nationally, and that is why I will be voting for Issue 6 on the ballot this year. I will add that I appreciate the hard work done by those backing Issue 7. They also clearly share a belief that marijuana should be available for medicinal purposes for people with cancer and other conditions, and, despite the court’s decision, I applaud the work of all parties involved in all efforts to achieve this goal.”
“My experience as a prosecutor has shown me that we can fight the spread of illegal drugs and grant access to medical marijuana for people like my stepmother, who passed away from a recurrence of breast cancer in 2010. There are more serious offenses we should be focusing on with law enforcement, including large scale drug trafficking involving methamphetamine, heroin, prescription drugs, and cocaine.”
The group Arkansans for Compassionate Care, which backed Issue 7, is also encouraging voters to pass Issue 6 and to continue voting for Issue 7.
Eldridge’s opponent, incumbent Republican Arkansas U.S. Sen. John Boozman, has said he opposes legalizing medical marijuana.
