Marijuana – Page 87 – Family Council

Attorney General Rutledge Rejects Yet Another Recreational Marijuana Measure

Jun 30, 2017Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana

Last week Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge rejected yet another recreational marijuana proposal.

The proposal would have allowed anyone 21 or older to buy, sell, grow, or use marijuana in Arkansas. The A.G.’s office rejected the proposal, citing ambiguities in the measure’s text.

If all of this sounds familiar, that’s because it is not the first time our Attorney General has rejected a recreational marijuana proposal. In fact, this is at least the third measure the A.G. has rejected in the past six weeks.

As we keep saying: Marijuana proponents are not content to stop at “medical marijuana.” The endgame is–and always has been–full legalization of marijuana.

You can read the A.G.’s entire opinion on the proposal here.

Study Finds Link Between Recreational Marijuana and Car Crashes

Jun 23, 2017Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana

A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) has found car crashes increase in states where recreational marijuana is legal.

HLDI writes,

Legalizing recreational marijuana use in Colorado, Oregon and Washington has resulted in collision claim frequencies that are about 3 percent higher overall than would have been expected without legalization . . . .

After comparing collision reports from various states, HLDI concluded collisions claims were 14% higher in Colorado than in neighboring states following the legalization of recreational marijuana in 2012; Washington came in 6% above its neighbors, and Oregon’s collision reports were 4% higher than its neighbors.

IIHS concludes,

“Worry that legalized marijuana is increasing crash rates isn’t misplaced,” says David Zuby, executive vice president and chief research officer of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “HLDI’s findings on the early experience of Colorado, Oregon and Washington should give other states eyeing legalization pause.”

All of this underscores what we continue to say: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

A.G. Rejects Another Recreational Marijuana Proposal

Jun 14, 2017Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana

Last week Attorney General Leslie Rutledge rejected yet another recreational marijuana proposal.

The latest proposal was similar to measures the A.G. previously rejected. It effectively would have legalized marijuana despite the fact marijuana remains illegal under federal law.

Among other things, Attorney General Rutledge noted serious ambiguities in the proposal’s wording.

While we are glad the A.G. rejected this marijuana proposal, all of this underscores the fact that full legalization of marijuana is the endgame for marijuana supporters.

As we keep saying, every state that has legalized so-called “medical marijuana” has seen an increased push to legalize recreational marijuana. Now that Arkansas has “medical marijuana,” it makes sense that marijuana proponents would push for recreational as well.

You can read the A.G.’s opinion rejecting the proposal here.