State Reports 0 Abortions in Arkansas During 2023

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Official reports from the Arkansas Department of Health’s Vital Statistics show no abortions occurred in the state during 2023.

Arkansas law generally prohibits abortion, but it contains exceptions for situations in which the mother’s life is at risk.

The state publishes annual reports every June documenting the number of abortions performed during the previous year.

The health department recently released three different reports showing the number of abortions performed last year, the number of women who experienced complications from abortion, and the number of abortions necessary to save the life of the mother. All three reports show 0 abortions during 2023.

In the past, Arkansas has averaged around 3,200 abortions per year. All in all, our team estimates Arkansas’ pro-life laws are protecting thousands of women and unborn children from abortion each year.

These reports are great news. Arkansas has successfully prohibited abortion except to save the life of the mother. Arkansas’ pro-life laws are protecting women, and they are saving unborn children. That is something to celebrate.

Right now an effort is underway in Arkansas that would repeal Arkansas’ pro-life laws and write abortion into the state constitution.

If passed, the Arkansas Abortion Amendment would allow thousands of elective abortions in Arkansas every year.

The amendment does not contain any medical licensing or health and safety standards for abortion.

It contains sweeping health exceptions that would permit abortion on demand through all nine months of pregnancy in many cases.

The amendment also would pave the way for publicly funded abortion in Arkansas by changing Amendment 68 to the Arkansas Constitution that currently prohibits taxpayer funded abortion in the state.

You can download a copy of the Arkansas Abortion Amendment here.

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

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Teens Who Use Marijuana Face 11 Times Higher Risk of Psychotic Disorder: New Study

Marijuana

A study recently published in the journal Psychological Medicine estimates teens who use marijuana are at 11 times higher risk of developing a psychotic disorder compared to teens who do not use marijuana. 

The research suggests the link between marijuana and psychotic disorders might be stronger than previously thought. Earlier studies primarily used older data that examined the effects of weaker marijuana. Experts have noted that marijuana’s potency has surged in recent years — and that marijuana containing high concentrations of THC carry significant health concerns.

Research closely links marijuana use with increased risk for depression and bipolar disorder and to higher rates of schizophrenia in young men.

Frequent marijuana use — especially during adolescence — is associated with lower cognitive abilities, including poorer memory, attention, and learning. These effects may continue even after someone stops using marijuana.

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

The group has until July 5 to collect 90,704 petition signatures from registered voters to place the marijuana amendment on the ballot.

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.

This latest research reminds us that marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

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

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What Does Arkansas’ Current Abortion Law Actually Say?

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In this photo from June 24, 2022, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge (left) and Family Council President Jerry Cox hold the official certification that Roe is reversed and Act 180 of 2019 is in effect.

After the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, Act 180 of 2019 prohibiting abortion except to save the life of the mother took effect in Arkansas.

Below is a brief overview of what Act 180 says:

  • Act 180 prohibits abortion in Arkansas except to save the mother’s life. 
  • The law contains clear exceptions for ectopic pregnancies.
  • It contains clear exceptions for contraception—including the “morning after” pill or Plan B. 
  • Act 180 doesn’t criminalize miscarriage. It specifically allows procedures to remove an unborn baby who has died as a result of a miscarriage. 
  • The law cannot be used to prosecute a woman who has an illegal abortion.
  • Act 180 says anyone who performs an illegal abortion in Arkansas can be fined and imprisoned. 
  • The law doesn’t prohibit an OB/GYN from inducing labor or performing an emergency C-section or similar procedure to protect the mother or the unborn child.
  • Act 180 doesn’t prevent a pregnant woman from receiving medical treatments—such as chemotherapy—that carry risk for the unborn child. 

Act 180 of 2019 had 47 legislative sponsors and co-sponsors. Three-quarters of the Arkansas Legislature voted in favor of the measure, and Governor Hutchinson signed it into law.

Public opinion polling has shown 79% of likely voters in Arkansas believe abortion should be either completely illegal or legal only under certain circumstances. Act 180 reflects that. It generally prohibits abortion, but it makes exceptions for serious medical complications—like an ectopic pregnancy—and for circumstances when the mother’s life is in jeopardy.

You Can Read Act 180 of 2019 Here.

Right now an effort is underway in Arkansas that would repeal Act 180 and write abortion into the Arkansas Constitution.

If passed, the Arkansas Abortion Amendment would allow thousands of elective abortions in Arkansas every year.

The amendment does not contain any medical licensing or health and safety standards for abortion, and it automatically nullifies all state laws that conflict with the amendment. That jeopardizes even the most basic restrictions on abortion.

The amendment contains sweeping health exceptions that would permit abortion on demand through all nine months of pregnancy in many cases.

The amendment also would pave the way for publicly funded abortion in Arkansas by changing Amendment 68 to the Arkansas Constitution that currently prohibits taxpayer funded abortion in the state.

Arkansans have generally opposed taxpayer-funded abortion, but taxpayer-funded abortion through all nine months of pregnancy could become a reality in Arkansas if the abortion amendment passes.

You can download a copy of the abortion amendment here.

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

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