BREAKING: Secretary of State Disqualifies Abortion Amendment Petitions for Failing to Comply With State Law

Abortion, , ,
Above: Pro-lifers gather at the capitol as petitions for the abortion amendment are delivered to the Secretary of State in this file photo from July 5, 2024.

The following is a press release from Family Council Action Committee.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 10, 2024

On Wednesday the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office disqualified the petitions for the Arkansas Abortion Amendment due to the petitions’ failure to identify paid canvassers by name as required by state law.

Family Council Action Committee Executive Director Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “This is good news. The people who supported this amendment ran an aggressive petition campaign. But Arkansas law is very specific about how petition signatures are supposed to be collected and submitted. The Secretary of State has made the right decision by disqualifying these petitions that did not comply with the law. We appreciate the Secretary of State’s diligence in reviewing these petitions and commitment to upholding state law.”

Cox said he is confident the abortion amendment would not have passed even if it reached the ballot. “Over the past several weeks we have seen a groundswell of pro-life opposition against the abortion amendment. Arkansans do not support abortion on demand, and that is what this amendment would have brought to Arkansas. This amendment would have legalized abortion for any reason during the first five months of pregnancy and abortion up to birth in many cases. The amendment did not include any medical licensing or health and safety standards for abortion. Those are fatal flaws, and I am confident Arkansans would have rejected the amendment had it made it to the ballot.”

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Gov. Sanders Calls on Arkansas to Pray for Peace in Israel

Prayer,

Gov. Sanders recently issued a proclamation setting aside July 23 as “Pray for Peace in Israel Day in Arkansas.”

The proclamation notes that Arkansas is committed to promoting peace and justice, and that “the State of Arkansas recognizes the importance of fostering strong bonds of friendship and support” with Israel.

It recognizes the threats and challenges Israel faces today, and calls on the State of Arkansas to join in prayer for “the peace, security, and prosperity of Israel.”

A copy of the proclamation is available below.

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Arkansas Authorities Continue to Seize Illegal Marijuana from Out of State

Marijuana,

Authorities in Arkansas continue to seize black market marijuana originating from out of state.

On Monday, the Arkansas State Police announced troopers had confiscated hundreds of pounds of illegal marijuana and THC over the course of traffic stops in June and July.

The press release indicated the drugs largely originated from outside of Arkansas.

We have written repeatedly about how marijuana’s legalization in other states has actually fueled the black market rather than weakening it.

Despite California’s decision to legalize marijuana, the state’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce seized nearly 32,000 pounds of illegal marijuana in the first three months of 2024.

Oregon has been flooded by illegal marijuana operations controlled by organized crime and drug cartels. Some of these marijuana operations are tied to labor trafficking and violent crime.

Oklahoma authorities describe illicit marijuana as a problem that “plagues” their state.

The list goes on.

Right now the group Arkansans for Patient Access is actively working to drastically expand marijuana in Arkansas.

If passed, the amendment would give free marijuana cards to immigrants and out-of-state residents who come to Arkansas to use marijuana.

The amendment would guarantee marijuana growers and sellers a monopoly over the state’s marijuana industry.

Marijuana users would no longer need to show they suffer from a specific medical condition listed in state law — making it easier to use marijuana recreationally.

The measure also fails to limit the amount of THC that marijuana products can contain, and it repeals restrictions on marijuana advertising.

All of this would lead to more marijuana in the state.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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