Arkansas Advocates Submit Over 111,000 Signatures for Medical Cannabis Expansion Initiative

LOS ANGELES- Arkansas advocates have submitted more than 111,000 signatures to support a ballot initiative aimed at significantly expanding the state’s medical cannabis program. This initiative includes provisions to eliminate application fees for patients and permit home cultivation.

Last week, Arkansans for Patient Access (APA) submitted the signatures to put the initiative on the November ballot, according to a report by 5NEWS. If approved by voters, the measure would allow registered patients to grow medical cannabis at home. Additionally, it would broaden the range of health providers who can recommend patients for the program, including osteopathic doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists. The initiative also proposes to expand telemedicine services, recognize out-of-state patient IDs, extend patient registration from one year to three years, and remove application fees for patients.

Bill Paschall, a member of the APA campaign committee, stated, “Our canvassers found voters eager to place an amendment on the ballot that will eliminate barriers to access and make it less expensive to acquire and keep a medical cannabis card. As we move into the fall, we look forward to educating Arkansans all across the state about this amendment and the medicinal benefits of cannabis.”

Initially, the medical expansions ballot initiative was rejected by the attorney general. However, advocates updated and resubmitted the proposal, which was approved for the signature-gathering process in February.

Separately, cannabis advocates filed another amendment in March to legalize adult-use cannabis in Arkansas. However, the attorney general’s office rejected the proposal’s ballot wording. Arkansas voters had previously rejected an adult-use cannabis legalization initiative in 2022.