On Wednesday, Gov. Sanders vetoed a bad bill that would legalize “medical” marijuana deliveries in Arkansas.
In 2016, Arkansas enacted an amendment permitting “medical” marijuana in the state. At the time, we warned that people would use marijuana recreationally under the amendment — and there is evidence showing that is happening.
H.B. 1889 by Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R — Knoxville) and Sen. Joshua Bryant (R — Rogers) would let marijuana dispensaries in Arkansas deliver marijuana directly to patients and caregivers.
Under current law, marijuana is processed and delivered to dispensaries that are authorized to sell marijuana.
H.B. 1889 would let dispensaries use delivery vehicles to deliver marijuana to people rather than requiring people to come to the dispensary.
Letting marijuana dispensaries deliver marijuana to people serves no legitimate purpose, and it undermines regulations on “medical” marijuana.
The Arkansas Constitution already lets “designated caregivers” deliver marijuana to patients who are authorized to use it. That provision was written into the medical marijuana amendment to assist patients who can’t go to the dispensary.
Since designated caregivers are already able to deliver “medical” marijuana to patients, the deliveries legalized under H.B. 1889 are unnecessary.
Unfortunately, H.B. 1889 narrowly passed the Arkansas House and Senate, and it was sent to Gov. Sanders to be signed into law. However, the governor vetoed this bad bill on Wednesday.
In a letter to lawmakers, Gov. Sanders wrote,
To President Pro Tempore Hester and Speaker Evans:
Pursuant to my authority under Ark. Const. Art. 6, § 15, I am returning without my approval House Bill 1889, entitled “An Act to Amend the Limitations on Access to a Dispensary or Cultivation Facility; To Authorize a Dispensary to Deliver Orders via a Delivery Vehicle or via a Drive-Through Window.”
This legislation would expand access to usable marijuana, therefore I am vetoing this legislation.
Sincerely,
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Governor of Arkansas
Marijuana deliveries like the ones allowed under H.B. 1889 make it easier for “medical” marijuana to be moved to the black market or fall into the hands of people who are not authorized to use “medical” marijuana — including children.
States around the country have continued to encounter serious problems with marijuana trafficked illegally on the black market. Despite some provisions in H.B. 1889, the bill simply does not provide the kind of oversight necessary to keep that from happening in Arkansas.
We appreciate Gov. Sanders vetoing this bad bill. Lawmakers will reconvene on May 5, when they can decide whether to sustain or override the governor’s veto on H.B. 1889. Family Council will be there as well.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
