This week a good bill that prohibits “medical marijuana” users from smoking marijuana failed to clear the Arkansas Senate.
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment currently lets practically anyone qualify to smoke marijuana. Even children are allowed to smoke it.
Smoking is a recreational activity that is almost universally recognized as unhealthy.
That’s why S.B. 357 by Sen. Jason Rapert (R-Conway) and Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R-Elm Springs) prohibits marijuana smoking; other forms of medical marijuana use—such as marijuana oils, tinctures, and vaporizers—would remain legal, but not smoking.
This week S.B. 357 failed to pass the Arkansas Senate. The bill needed twenty-four votes to pass; it received only ten.
Here are the senators who voted for S.B. 357:
- Sen. Ron Caldwell (R-Wynne)
- Sen. Linda Collins-Smith (R-Pocahontas)
- Sen. John Cooper (R-Jonesboro)
- Sen. Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs)
- Sen. Missy Irvin (R-Mountain View)
- Sen. Jason Rapert (R-Conway)
- Sen. Bill Sample (R-Hot Springs)
- Sen. David Sanders (R-Little Rock)
- Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R-Branch)
- Sen. Eddie Joe Williams (R-Cabot)
Here are the senators who voted against S.B. 357:
- Sen. Will Bond (D-Little Rock)
- Sen. Alan Clark (R-Lonsdale)
- Sen. Joyce Elliot (D-Little Rock)
- Sen. Jane English (R-North Little Rock)
- Sen. Jake Files (R-Fort Smith)
- Sen. Stephanie Flowers (D-Pine Bluff)
- Sen. Trent Garner (R-El Dorado)
- Sen. Jim Hendren (R-Gravette)
- Sen. Jimmy Hickey (R-Texarkana)
- Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson (R-Little Rock)
- Sen. Keith Ingram (D-West Memphis)
- Sen. Uvalde Lindsey (D-Fayetteville)
- Sen. Bruce Maloch (D-Magnolia)
- Sen. Terry Rice (R-Waldron)
- Sen. David Wallace (R-Leachville)
Here are the senators who did not vote on S.B. 357:
- Sen. Eddie Cheatham (D-Crossett)
- Sen. Linda Chesterfield (D-Little Rock)
- Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Beebe)
- Sen. Lance Eads (R-Springdale)
- Sen. Scott Flippo (R-Bull Shoals)
- Sen. Blake Johnson (R-Corning)
- Sen. Bryan King (R-Green Forest)
- Sen. Greg Standridge (R-Russellville)
- Sen. Larry Teague (D-Nashville)
Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R-Rogers) was not able to vote due to an excused absence from the Arkansas Senate. However, she has assured us she supports S.B. 357.
