Supreme Court Leaves Marijuana Amendment On Ballot

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 22, 2022

Little Rock, Ark. — On Thursday the Arkansas Supreme Court chose to leave Issue 4, a proposed constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana in Arkansas, on the 2022 ballot.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “Issue 4 is a misleading proposal to legalize marijuana in Arkansas. It was crafted and supported by the marijuana industry. If it passes, Arkansas arguably will have the most unregulated cannabis industry of any state in America. That could bring serious crime and drug problems to Arkansas.”

Cox said Issue 4 is a recipe for disaster in Arkansas. “Issue 4 specifically prohibits the state from requiring criminal background checks for certain marijuana business owners. It legalizes any and all products, chemicals and derivatives made from the cannabis plant. It blocks public officials from zoning marijuana businesses or restricting marijuana use. It says point blank that state and local government cannot place additional taxes on marijuana. The amendment makes marijuana one of the least regulated industries in Arkansas. That is a recipe for disaster.”

Cox said Arkansans need to understand that marijuana legalization is being driven by drug cartels and big businesses. “Marijuana is a multi-billion dollar business. Drug cartels and shady corporations are cashing in on marijuana in states like Oregon and California. They clearly want to expand their market to Arkansas. We remain committed to fighting them every step of the way. Our state doesn’t need another drug problem.”

See The Video Ad Against Marijuana Legalization

A new video ad in Arkansas highlights the problems that states encounter when they legalize marijuana.

The ad by Safe and Secure Communities points out that marijuana-related traffic deaths have doubled in communities where marijuana is legal and that youth drug use has skyrocketed.

The ad urges Arkansans to vote No on Issue 4.

As we have written before, legalizing marijuana does not appear to reduce drug crime.

If anything, illicit drugs — including illegal marijuana — appear to be a bigger problem in states where marijuana has been legalized.

Issue 4 — the proposed marijuana amendment — makes sweeping changes to Arkansas’ constitution and state laws.

It repeals, replaces, and rewrites several parts of Arkansas’ medical marijuana amendment that voters passed in 2016, it adds new language to other parts of the Arkansas Constitution, and it drastically expands marijuana in every community in Arkansas.

It is unclear just how far-reaching some of these changes may be.

Watch the video from Safe and Secure Communities below.