Marijuana Amendment – Page 5

Arkansas Troopers Seize Over 200 Pounds of Illegal Marijuana From Out of State

May 20, 2024Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana, Marijuana Amendment

On Wednesday the Arkansas State Police released a statement announcing troopers recently seized more than 200 pounds of illegal marijuana in traffic stops — all of which appears to have originated from out of state.

The drug busts are part of a larger trend, with troopers confiscating more 1,000 pounds of illegal marijuana from out of state in just the last few weeks.

Stories like these serve as a reminder that marijuana’s legalization in other states has actually fueled the black market and the drug cartels rather than weakening them.

California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce seized more than $312 million worth of illegal marijuana in 2023.

Oregon has been inundated by industrial scale marijuana cultivation sites operated illegally by organized crime and drug cartels. Some of these marijuana operations are tied to labor trafficking and violent crime.

Oklahoma authorities describe illicit marijuana as a problem that “plagues” their state.

All of this comes as a proposed marijuana amendment is vying for the 2024 ballot in Arkansas — raising serious questions about how illicit marijuana could expand in Arkansas if the state goes the same route as California, Oregon, and others.

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

The Problem with the Biden Administration’s Plan to Reschedule Marijuana

May 17, 2024Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana, Marijuana Amendment

On Thursday the Biden Administration’s Justice Department announced plans to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug — putting it in the same category as anabolic steroids or Tylenol with Codeine.

This move comes despite growing evidence of marijuana’s serious — and permanent — impact on physical and mental health.

A body of scientific evidence reveals that marijuana is harmful — especially for teens and young adults.

Nationwide, since 2019, the number of kids diagnosed with cannabis-induced mental disorders, including schizophrenia and psychotic episodes, has increased by 50%.

And research has shown time and again that marijuana has a significant potential for dependence and abuse.

Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III substance is more than just bureaucratic tinkering. It may not legalize marijuana outright, but to many people it represents some sort of endorsement of marijuana — making it more accessible and acceptable.

Christians understand that human beings were made for a higher purpose than getting high, and scientific evidence continues to underscore the harm that marijuana causes to individuals, families, and communities.

While the Biden Administration is working to unilaterally reclassify marijuana, the group Arkansans for Patient Access is campaigning to pass a constitutional amendment drastically expanding Arkansas’ medical marijuana laws to enable recreational marijuana statewide.

The amendment does not place any limits on the amount of THC that marijuana products and edibles can contain.

If passed, the amendment would guarantee marijuana growers and sellers a monopoly over the state’s marijuana industry.

The amendment would give free marijuana cards to immigrants and out-of-state residents who come to Arkansas.

Marijuana users would no longer need to show they suffer from a specific medical condition listed in state law. People would be able to grow and use marijuana at home.

The amendment also repeals restrictions on marijuana advertising.

All of this would lead to more marijuana in Arkansas.

Arkansas voters rejected marijuana legalization at the ballot box in 2022. That amendment was opposed by a broad coalition of churches, business groups, elected officials, and citizens who knew that marijuana would be bad for Arkansas. We anticipate similar opposition to the 2024 marijuana amendment.

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

Group Raises Nearly $1M to Put Marijuana on the Ballot in Arkansas

May 16, 2024Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana, Marijuana Amendment

The group promoting marijuana in Arkansas has raised nearly $1 million their amendment campaign this year, according to reports filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.

Arkansans for Patient Access has until July 5 to collect 90,704 petition signatures to place the marijuana amendment on the ballot. In April the group raised $238,000 for its effort — bringing its grand total funding to $976,515.

The marijuana campaign spent more than a quarter-million dollars last month — primarily on petition canvassing.

Most of the campaign’s funding has come from marijuana businesses that would be guaranteed a monopoly if the amendment passes.

Among other things, the amendment fails to limit the amount of THC that marijuana and marijuana products can contain.

Marijuana users would no longer need to show they suffer from a specific medical condition listed in state law — making it easier for people to use marijuana recreationally.

The amendment lets people grow and use marijuana at home, and it would openly legalize marijuana in Arkansas if federal laws against marijuana are repealed.

The measure also repeals significant restrictions on marijuana advertising in Arkansas.

All of this would lead to more marijuana in Arkansas.

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