By: Lauren Spencer
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – The Arkansas Supreme Court overturned a State Board of Election Commissioners (SBEC) decision to deny certification of the constitutional amendment legalizing the use of marijuana on September 22.
On August 3, the SBEC denied certification of the proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults. They had concerns regarding background checks for dispensary owners and limits on THC. Review from SBEC is part of a new process for ballot petitions. The Arkansas Supreme Court rejected the SBEC’s concerns about ballot sufficiency in a 5-2 opinion.
Responsible Growth Arkansas got more than 193,000 signatures, which is more than twice the signatures required to make the ballot.
Issue 4 prohibits the state from requiring criminal background checks for dispensary owners. It legalizes all products, chemicals, and derivatives made from the cannabis plant. It also blocks public officials from zoning marijuana businesses or restricting marijuana use.
If this issue is approved by voters, those over 21 will be allowed to purchase cannabis from legal dispensaries and will amend the existing law for medical marijuana, which was approved in 2016. Recreational marijuana is legal in 19 states. Legalization proposals are on the ballot in North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri, and Maryland, along with Arkansas.