Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act Makes the 2016 Ballot

Group calls for other medical cannabis initiative to withdraw or face both failing at ballot.

LITTLE ROCK, AR A citizen-driven initiative that would allow Arkansas doctors to recommend medical cannabis for sick and dying patients will be on the November ballot.

Mark Martin, the Secretary of State, confirmed today that Arkansans for Compassionate Care (ACC) collected 77,516 valid signaturesmore than enough to place the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act on the ballot.

If voters approve the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act, their state will join 25 others and Washington D.C. in allowing doctors to write recommendations for cannabis to alleviate specified medical conditions.

In 2012, ACC sponsored a similar act which came within two percent of becoming Arkansas state law. Support for the issue has only grown in the last four years, and a recent poll by Talk Business & Politics/Hendrix College indicates that nearly 60% of Arkansas voters approve of doctors being able to recommend cannabis as medicine for certain conditions.

This year, however, ACC is facing competition in the form of a second initiative, The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment (AMMA).

Unfortunately, said Melissa Fults, ACCs campaign director, polling suggests that if both initiatives make the ballot, its almost certain that both will fail. Today, as we turn toward November, Im asking Jason Polk & David Couch to end their campaign and join us to ensure sick and dying Arkansans get the most patient-oriented initiative we can. Please do not ...