by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Recreational marijuana use will be on Arkansas’ November election ballot. The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday (Sept. 22) overturned a State Board of Election Commissioners (SBEC) decision to deny certification of the constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana use for adults.

The SBEC on Aug. 3 denied certification of a proposed constitutional amendment – Issue 4 – to legalize recreational marijuana for adults over the age of 21. The panel cited concerns regarding sufficient background checks for dispensary owners and limits on THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, a chemical found in marijuana. The SBEC review is part of a new process for ballot petitions.

In a 5-2 opinion, the Arkansas Supreme Court rejected the panel’s concerns about ballot sufficiency. Justices Shawn Womack and Barbara Webb dissented. (Link here for a PDF of the opinion.)

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/09/arkansas-supreme-court-puts-marijuana-amendment-back-on-the-november-ballot/

KUAR | By The Associated Press

Supporters of a recreational marijuana initiative have turned in the required number of valid signatures, moving the measure closer to appearing on Arkansas’ ballot this fall, election officials said Friday.

A spokesman for the secretary of state’s office said supporters of the proposed constitutional amendment had reached the 89,151 valid signatures from registered voters needed to qualify for the November ballot. The proposal’s popular name and ballot title still must be approved by the state Board of Election Commissioners to qualify for the ballot.

The board is expected to review the measure on Wednesday.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-07-29/arkansas-officials-ok-signatures-for-marijuana-initiative

Arkansas Supreme Court puts marijuana amendment back on the November ballot

Arkansas officials OK signatures for marijuana initiative