Marijuana – Page 94 – Family Council

Voters Reject Marijuana Issue 4 in Arkansas

Nov 9, 2022Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana

*Above: Jerry Cox speaks against marijuana amendment Issue 4 during a press conference in Little Rock.*

The following is a press release from Family Council Action Committee.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 8, 2022

LITTLE ROCK – On Tuesday voters in Arkansas rejected Issue 4, the amendment to legalize marijuana in Arkansas.

Family Council Action Committee Executive Director Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “This is a stunning victory for Arkansas. Supporters of Issue 4 spent more than $13 million placing it on the ballot and trying to persuade voters to support it. Arkansans knew better than to go along with that. This was a true ‘David and Goliath’ fight and David won. The campaign against Issue 4 had only a fraction of the money that the marijuana industry had, but it was defeated by a broad coalition of churches, business groups, elected officials, and citizens who knew that Issue 4 would be bad for Arkansas.”

Cox praised the broad coalition of groups and individuals who opposed Issue 4. “Defeating Issue 4 was truly a team effort. We couldn’t have defeated Issue 4 without the broad, bipartisan coalition against it. Here are just a few of the people who spoke out against this measure: Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Governor Asa Hutchinson, Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin, U.S. Senators Boozman and Cotton, U.S. Congressmen Rick Crawford, French Hill, and Bruce Westerman, attorney David Couch, marijuana advocate Melissa Fults, the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, dozens of state lawmakers, Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Arkansas Trucking Association, the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Focus on the Family, the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council, the Republican Party of Arkansas, the Arkansas State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police, and many, many others. Every one of these individuals and organizations brought something unique to the fight against Issue 4. We were able to defeat Issue 4 today, because everybody did their part.”

Cox said he hopes tonight’s vote sends a powerful message to the corporations that want to legalize marijuana in Arkansas. “The marijuana industry spent millions of dollars trying to write itself into the Arkansas Constitution. Now they know that Arkansans do not support that kind of crony politics. Communities in Arkansas don’t want to be like Portland or Chicago. The people who backed Issue 4 should think twice before trying to legalize marijuana in our state.”

Support for Marijuana Issue 4 Plummets in U of A’s Arkansas Poll

Nov 3, 2022Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana

The following is a press release from Family Council Action Committee.

LITTLE ROCK – On Thursday, the University of Arkansas released the results of its annual Arkansas Poll. The poll reveals that support for marijuana amendment Issue 4 has dwindled to new lows, with only 41% of Arkansans supporting the measure. Fifty-nine percent oppose Issue 4.

Family Council Action Committee Executive Director Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “Arkansans understand that Issue 4 is a crony political measure that writes the marijuana industry into our state constitution. Law enforcement does not support this measure. The Arkansas Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement yesterday saying they oppose Issue 4. The Little Rock Police Department has said it does not support the measure. This poll shows that the vast majority of Arkansans don’t support Issue 4 either.”

Cox pointed out that dozens of leaders and organizations oppose marijuana Issue 4. “Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee opposes Issue 4. So does Governor Hutchinson, Lt. Governor Griffin, 64 Arkansas legislators, the Arkansas Senate Republican Caucus, the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus, and many, many other leaders across the state. They understand that this is a dangerous measure that will hurt Arkansas and give a handful of businessmen and bureaucrats a monopoly on marijuana in Arkansas. We are continuing to urge voters to oppose Issue 4 as they head to the polls, and I am confident that Arkansans will reject Issue 4 on Election Day.”

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Support for Marijuana Issue 4 Dwindling Despite Millions Spent to Pass It

Nov 2, 2022Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana

The following is a press release from Family Council Action Committee.

LITTLE ROCK – On Monday reports filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission showed the group Responsible Growth Arkansas had raised more than $13 millions of dollars to pass marijuana amendment Issue 4. In spite of this spending, Talk Business & Politics polling shows support for Issue 4 has fallen to 50.5% in Arkansas as of mid-October.

Family Council Action Committee Executive Director Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “Issue 4 was crafted by marijuana insiders. It rewrites the medical marijuana amendment that voters passed in 2016, and it gives a handful of businessmen and bureaucrats control over the cannabis industry in Arkansas. Issue 4’s supporters are spending millions of dollars to persuade voters to back their measure, but Arkansans see this amendment for what it is. Issue 4 is the kind of crony politics that Arkansans are sick and tired of. We are confident that voters will reject marijuana amendment Issue 4 on Election Day.”

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