Bad Bill Would Legalize Drinks Containing Delta-9 THC

Legislation, Marijuana,

A bill filed at the capitol last week would legalize drinks that contain Delta-9 THC made from industrial hemp.

Delta-9 THC is a mind-altering substance found in cannabis plants. It is the primary psychoactive substance in marijuana.

In 2018 congress passed legislation permitting industrial hemp in America — which is defined as cannabis plants that are supposed to be low in THC. However, a loophole in the federal law has let manufacturers extract as much THC as possible out of industrial hemp and infuse it into products such as gummies, candies, and other edibles.

Last year officials in Minnesota issued a public health warning about “high-dose hemp-derived products” containing “hundreds of milligrams of THC per serving.”

H.B. 1578 by Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R — Knoxville) and Sen. Joshua Bryant (R — Rogers) would legalize intoxicating drinks made from hemp containing Delta-9 THC.

The bill treats hemp-derived drinks similarly to alcohol, allowing them to be manufactured, distributed, and sold in Arkansas.

The bill sets age restrictions, licensing requirements, and manufacturing guidelines for these drinks, but it does not clearly restrict the amount of THC a hemp-derived drink could contain. That raises serious public health and safety concerns about the measure.

You Can Read H.B. 1578 Here.

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

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House Public Health Committee Passes Good Bill Clarifying State Abortion Laws

Abortion, , , ,

On Tuesday the House Public Health Committee passed a good bill clarifying Arkansas’ laws concerning abortion.

Currently, state law prohibits abortion except to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency.

H.B. 1610 by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R — Elm Springs) and Sen. Jimmy Hickey (R — Texarkana) would clarify the definition of “medical emergency,” strengthen legal protections for doctors who treat pregnant women, close possible loopholes in the current abortion law, and make it clear that abortion remains illegal in Arkansas except to save the mother’s life.

Arkansas has been named the most pro-life state in America, and lawmakers have enacted dozens of good measures protecting women and unborn children from abortion — including laws that generally prohibit abortion except to save the life of the mother.

H.B. 1610 is a good bill that would bring better clarity to Arkansas’ abortion laws and make it easier for the state to continue protecting innocent human life.

The bill now goes to the entire Arkansas House of Representatives for consideration.

Below is part of Rep. Lundstrum’s committee testimony in support of H.B. 1610.

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

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Bill Filed to Crack Down on Abortion Pill Trafficking in Arkansas

Abortion, , , ,

Legislation filed on Tuesday would strengthen penalties for violating Arkansas laws concerning abortion-inducing drugs.

Currently, Arkansas law generally prohibits abortion except to save the life of the mother, and the state’s Abortion-Inducing Drugs Safety Act, which passed in 2021, makes it a crime to mail or deliver drugs like RU-486 into Arkansas for purposes of abortion.

Last year Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin issued cease-and-desist letters to New York companies advertising abortion pills in Arkansas. The letters alleged the companies were violating Arkansas law, and the A.G.’s office later announced the advertisements for abortion pills stopped as a result of their cease-and-desist.

However, NPR reported last year that lawmakers in some pro-abortion states have enacted “shield laws” to protect abortionists who ship abortion drugs across state lines. The shield laws give abortionists immunity from civil or criminal liability and prevent them from being extradited to the state where the abortion drugs were sent.

H.B. 1678 by Rep. Wayne Long (R — Bradford) would amend Arkansas’ Abortion-Inducing Drugs Safety Act to help address this problem. The bill would increase the penalty for selling or prescribing abortion-inducing drugs — making the crime a felony and levying a $50,000 fine against doctors, pharmacists, or other individuals who break the law.

The bill also would also make it easier to take a person to court for violating the Abortion-Inducing Drugs Safety Act, and it would clarify that selling or prescribing illegal abortion drugs is considered a form of “deceptive trade” under Arkansas law.

All of this would provide additional options for enforcing Arkansas’ pro-life laws.

Abortion-inducing drugs take the life of an unborn child. They also carry significant health risks for women — including risks of sepsis and death. In some cases, abortion drugs actually can be more dangerous for women than surgical abortion procedures. That is why states like Arkansas have prohibited the delivery of abortion drugs from out of state.

H.B. 1678 would help tighten state restrictions on abortion drugs — which would provide better protection for women and unborn children in Arkansas.

You Can Read H.B. 1678 Here.

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

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