Anti-Marijuana Group Opens in Arkansas, Opposes S.J.R. 13

The group Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) announced this week that it is launching operations in Arkansas.

SAM Arkansas’ website — samarkansas.com — offers Arkansans information about problems associated with marijuana, including:

  • The link between marijuana use and mental illness
  • The power that wealthy cannabis companies wield
  • The rising THC levels found in today’s marijuana

The SAM Arkansas strongly opposes S.J.R. 13 — a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize marijuana in Arkansas — posting the following statement:

“Arkansans sent a clear message in 2022: they don’t want marijuana in their state. They recognized that legalization is nothing more than a way for rich investors to profit off of an addiction-for-profit model targeted at our kids. There is no appetite for yet another ballot measure trying to legalize marijuana in Arkansas,” said Luke Niforatos, Executive Vice President of SAM Action. “The home grow provisions of this bill are dangerous, too. Legalizing home grow only invites drug cartels into the state. Cartels can cut trafficking costs by producing marijuana in-state, putting the safety of Arkansans at serious risk.

“SJR 13 is an industry bill that, if passed, will hurt Arkansans. The voters of Arkansas already had to vote on the health and safety of their children last year when legalization was on the ballot. They should not have to do so again.”

Read more about SAM Arkansas’ work here.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment Would Legalize Marijuana in Arkansas

A proposal at the Arkansas Legislature would put marijuana legalization on the 2024 ballot.

S.J.R. 13 by Sen. Joshua Bryant (R – Rogers) would “legalize marijuana for the purposes of craft or home growing and adult use by Arkansas residents of a certain age.”

The proposal is a “shell” amendment right now — meaning it tells what the amendment would do, but has not been fleshed out with specific language amending the Arkansas Constitution.

Arkansans soundly rejected a proposal to legalize marijuana last November, and Family Council strongly opposes marijuana legalization because of the harm that marijuana does to families.

You Can Read S.J.R. 13 Here.