Lawmakers File Measure Addressing Marijuana Use in Public, On the Highway

Legislation, Marijuana,

A new bill filed at the Arkansas Legislature would clarify state laws concerning medical marijuana use in public and on the highway.

H.B. 1452 by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R — Elm Springs) and Sen. Tyler Dees (R — Siloam Springs) amends Arkansas law concerning the use and transportation of medical marijuana in Arkansas.

The bill clarifies that it is illegal to smoke marijuana in public — including at a school, a daycare, a college, a drug and alcohol abuse treatment center, at a community or recreation center, on a military base, in the presence of a pregnant woman — or anywhere that tobacco smoking is prohibited by law.

The bill also makes it clear that it is illegal drive on a highway with an unsealed container of smokable medical marijuana within reach of the driver or passenger.

Research shows that marijuana use clouds brain function. Marijuana exposure is a public health hazard that harms pregnant women and children.

H.B. 1452 will help uphold public health and safety in Arkansas when it comes to marijuana. You Can Read The Bill Here.

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

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CT Poison Control Centers See Spike in Marijuana-Related Calls

Marijuana

Marijuana is sending Connecticut children to the E.R. and prompting people to call Poison Control.

Local news outlets report,

The Connecticut Poison Control Center says it receives 40-60 calls a month on average for children 17 and younger who have inhaled or ingested cannabis. There have been 668 calls into the center since 2019 with 280 cases of children younger than 6 and 110 for ages 6-11.

Doctors say [marijuana] edibles are the real issue because they are made to look like candy.

For years now, public health data across America has shown marijuana products are sending kids to the emergency room.

Marijuana edibles often mimic popular candies that appeal to children. But because marijuana edibles often contain high concentrations of THC, the products are dangerous.

From heart disease and cancer to stroke, mental illness, and birth defects, marijuana has been found time and time again to pose serious health hazards.

All of this simply underscores what we have said for years: 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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Senate Education Committee Fails to Pass Pro-Life Ultrasound Education Bill

Legislation, , ,

On Monday the Arkansas Senate Education Committee failed to pass a good bill that provides public school students with appropriate education about unborn children.

H.B. 1180, The Baby Olivia Act, by Rep. Mary Bentley (R — Perryville) and Sen. Clint Penzo (R — Springdale) ensures public schools show students a recording of a high-definition ultrasound video that is at least three minutes long as part of sex-education and human growth and development education courses. It also lets students see Live Action’s computer-animated “Meet Baby Olivia” video that teaches about human development from conception to birth.

The bill passed with overwhelming support in the Arkansas House last week, but the Senate Education Committee failed to pass H.B. 1180 during its meeting Monday morning.

After roughly an hour of discussion, the bill’s sponsors offered to pull the bill down so they could address concerns expressed by members of the committee. However, Sen. Stephanie Flowers (D — Pine Bluff) made a motion “Do Not Pass” on H.B. 1180 in order to kill the bill before the sponsors could address the committee’s concerns.

A “Do Not Pass” motion is a relatively rare motion at the Arkansas Legislature. It calls for the committee to vote to reject the bill.

Adopting a “Do Not Pass” motion requires five votes in committee. Fortunately, the motion only received four votes.

The following senators voted in favor of the “Do Not Pass” motion on H.B. 1180 (bad vote):

  • Sen. Stephanie Flowers (D — Pine Bluff)
  • Sen. Breanne Davis (R — Russellville)
  • Sen. Reginald Murdock (D — Marianna)
  • Sen. Jane English (R — North Little Rock)

The following senators voted against the “Do Not Pass” motion on H.B. 1180 (good vote):

  • Sen. Jim Dotson (R — Bentonville)
  • Sen. Joshua Bryant (R — Rogers)
  • Sen. Dan Sullivan (R — Jonesboro)

After narrowly avoiding a motion “Do Not Pass,” H.B. 1180’s sponsors pulled the bill down, and indicated they might bring an amended version of the bill back for consideration. That means the Senate Education Committee may have another opportunity to pass the Baby Olivia Act.

Ultrasound images help clearly demonstrate that unborn children are living human beings. Very few medical advancements have done more to change hearts and minds about unborn children than ultrasound technology. And it’s important for students to learn about the development of unborn children in an age-appropriate manner. H.B. 1180 is a good bill that does exactly that.

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

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