As we begin to put the results of the 2020 election behind us, now is the time to focus on Arkansas’ Marijuana Initiatives for the 2022 election. The Arkansas Recreational Marijuana Initiative had intentions to make it to the 2020 election, but experienced a setback due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Arkansas Recreational Marijuana Initiative calls for an amendment to the Arkansas constitution defining recreational marijuana, as well as the cultivation, production, distribution, possession, transport, and sale for persons 21 years of age and older. It only needs 89,151 signatures to make it to the ballot.
One thing that stood out to me was the statement: “UNDER THIS AMENDMENT THE ARKANSAS AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT AND THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL DIVISION SHALL REGULATE THE CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA THAT IS SOLD IN THE STATE.” This is interesting to me, because the Medical Marijuana Commission in Arkansas that was tasked with administering and regulating the issuance of licenses to operate medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation facilities in Arkansas has been the subject of much criticism. Would this new amendment provide a better means? I’m going to reach out to Arkansas True Grass to find out, but in the mean time..
Regarding the criticism of the existing commission, Channel 5 News in NW Arkansas shared a story in 2018 stating that, “More than two years after Arkansans voted to legalize medical marijuana, the commission created to approve licenses for cultivators and growers has had to respond to public criticisms of lack of transparency and sluggish movement.” The report also noted, “Since 2016, the commission has been dogged with accusations of corruption and collusion. Last month, a northwest Arkansas newspaper reported that commissioner Dr. Carlos Roman appeared to hand an unredacted successful cultivator application to a cultivator whose application was rejected.”
More problems followed in 2020 when an Arkansas medical cannabis company filed a lawsuit against three state agencies over a failed bid to win a dispensary license. A quick search online finds multiple news stories over the previous two years about lawsuits against the commission for their methods. I also found multiple stories and complaints over the commission’s voting record, and how they seem to continually vote down additional dispensary licenses. I was curious how the commission operates, so I watched the last meeting which occurred in November of 2020. For anyone that’s interested, they live stream these meetings for the public. You can also access the minutes from the previous meetings here.
As I listened to the last meeting, I got the impression that the board is overall resistant to expanding the industry in Arkansas. One member in particular would vote against the issuance of licenses or against certain changes to licenses with comments such as “it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”
Another dispensary, who has applied (and been denied) multiple times appeared again, asking for approval. An existing dispensary owner was allowed to speak out against the opening of this new dispensary. It seemed obvious to me that the existing business owner was concerned more about having competition in his zone than he was about the patients who need more locations. A state senator actually spoke in favor of allowing the dispensary, as it provides a closer facility to the elderly patients in Hot Springs Village who find it hard to travel the long distance to the existing dispensary. However, the facility was quickly voted down, yet again.
It’s frustrating to hear about the resistance that Medical Marijuana in Arkansas is receiving when so much of the population is in favor of it. Under the current regulations, it just seems that it will be very difficult for the industry to thrive at all. That’s why I think it’s important to review the initiatives that could end up on the ballot in 2022, and work now to support those that you’re in favor of while you can. Don’t wait until November of 2022 to make that decision because if you wait that long, you might be too late.
Resources:
Read the full text of the Arkansas Recreational Marijuana Amendment
Find a local volunteer group for the initiative
Volunteer to collect signatures for the 2022 initiative