LITTLE ROCK (KFSM) — The Arkansas Supreme Court denied a petition that would pull the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment from the November Ballot on Thursday (Oct. 13).
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016, which would legalize marijuana for medical use, will be put to vote on Nov. 8.
According to court documents, the Arkansans Against Legalized Marijuana group petitioned the supreme court to review the amendment, arguing that the ballot title is misleading in four areas:
- It falsely informs voters that the amendment will place limitations on medical marijuana use for qualifying patients
- It doesn’t notify voters that the amendment will allow marijuana dispensaries to sell food and drink containing marijuana
- It doesn’t show the amendment’s effect on employers, landlords, churches and schools
- it doesn’t inform voters that doctors, lawyers and professionals can’t be denied a license to practice for using medical marijuana.
However, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled each point of contention was without merit, documents state. The first three points were denied based on precedent, as the supreme court recently heard a petition against the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act, which is also set to be on the November ballot.
The court also disagreed with the final point. It ruled that the ballot title informs voters that professionals wouldn’t be subject to forms of discrimination based on medical marijuana use.
The supreme court concluded that voters will be able to reach an informed decision based on the ballot’s current wording. Therefore, the petition was denied.
