Medical Marijuana Initiative Narrowly Fails in Arkansas
Arkansas narrowly missed a chance to become the first medical marijuana state in the South on Election Day. For now, patients with multiple sclerosis, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other conditions that marijuana can effectively treat will continue awaiting the day they are no longer criminals. Still, the progress made by this campaign shows that day will come soon.
No matter the outcome, congratulations are in order for the people who nearly pulled of this challenging victory. With support from MPP, activists with Arkansans for Compassionate Care were able to collect over 100,000 signatures, more than enough to qualify the initiative for the ballot. They also went into the courtroom and beat back an effort by opponents to block the initiative through the legal system, eventually convincing the Arkansas Supreme Court to put the measure before voters. And the 48.6% of the vote Issue 5 received represents a record high level of support for any marijuana reform initiative in the South.
Unfortunately, their efforts just weren’t enough to overcome a compassionless campaign by opponents that was so deceptive its leader is being sued for defamation and slander. Victories elsewhere yesterday, including the passage of a medical marijuana initiative in Massachusetts and initiatives that tax and regulate marijuana in Colorado and Washington, show that our opponents are on the wrong side of history.
Activists may be back with another initiative in 2014 or 2016, unless the legislature passes an effective law first. You can help make that happen by writing your legislators now.
Marijuana Laws in Arkansas
Possession of less than four ounces of marijuana in Arkansas is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500 (A.R.C. §5-64-419). Possession of an ounce of marijuana or more by those who have twice been convicted of possession is a class D felony, punishable by imprisonment for up to six years and a fine of up to $6,000.
If you’d like to see changes to Arkansas’ harsh, ineffective marijuana laws, take just a minute of your time to send a message to your state legislators urging them to consider decriminalizing possession of modest amounts of marijuana in Arkansas.
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