Arkansas Ballot Initiative to Expand Medical Cannabis Access Fails to Qualify for November Ballots

The proposal to expand Arkansas’ medical cannabis program will not qualify for November ballots because advocates were short more than 2,000 signatures, the Associated Press reports. Secretary of State John Thurston on Monday said Arkansas for Patient Access had collected 88,040 of the 90,704 signatures needed to put the issue to voters. 

Arkansas for Patient Access has indicated it plans to take legal action against the decision. In a statement, the group called Thurston’s rejection of the signatures an “arbitrary” last-minute rule change. 

“The overwhelming support shown through the petition process proves that Arkansans want the opportunity to vote on expanded medical marijuana access. Arkansans for Patient Access will continue to fight for their right to make that decision at the ballot box this November.” — Arkansas for Patient Access in a statement 

In July, the state told the group it had fallen short of the signature goal but that the proposal had qualified for an additional 30 days to circulate petitions. 

The ballot initiative sought to allow registered patients to grow medical cannabis at home, certify additional health providers including osteopathic doctors, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, and pharmacists to recommend patients for the program, and allow such health providers to recommend medical cannabis treatments to anyone they think would benefit from the program. The initiative also includes telemedicine expansions, permits out-of-state patient IDs, increases the registration period for patients from one year to three years, and removes program application fees for patients.