Attorney General Dustin McDaniel on Wednesday approved the popular name and ballot title for a proposed constitutional amendment to make the "cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, sale, and possession and use" of marijuana legal in the state.
If the proposal gets on the fall ballot and is approved by voters, it will take effect April 20.
In a letter to the proposal's author, Robert Reed of Dennard in Van Buren County, McDaniel wrote that his review was limited to ensuring that the wording "honestly, intelligibly, and fairly" explains the purpose of the proposed amendment. McDaniel wrote that the proposed popular name was sufficient but that he substituted a "more suitable, complete and correct popular name and ballot title" and certified it.
That name is now "The Arkansas Hemp and Cannabis Amendment."
Reed has until July 7 to have the form of a petition approved by the secretary of state's office and to gather the 78,133 signatures needed to get it on the November ballot.
Reed said in an interview that he will submit a petition as soon as possible and begin gathering signatures immediately after it's approved.
"As important as this is for the state ... I do believe the citizens can make it happen," Reed said.
Reed said "it feels great" to have the language approved after having it rejected by McDaniel two other times. Reed has also submitted several other proposals on behalf of other groups that have been rejected by the attorney general.
Arkansas law requires that the popular name and ballot title be approved by the attorney general before signatures can be gathered to get it on the ballot.
Laura Labay, a spokesman for Secretary of State Mark Martin, said three other proposals are already in the signature-gathering phase. Those proposals include measures to raise the state minimum wage, allow the use of medicinal marijuana and allow for the manufacture, sale, distribution and transportation of alcohol throughout the state.
David Couch, the author of another medical-marijuana proposal, said he has pulled his measure for this year but would attempt to get it on the ballot in 2016. He said his group, Arkansans for Responsible Medicine, is not backing the other medical-marijuana proposal, sponsored by Arkansans for Compassionate Care, or the decriminalization proposal.
Labay said no group has submitted signatures to the secretary of state's office. But the head of Give Arkansas a Raise Now, the minimum-wage group, has said it has enough signatures, if they're valid, to get on the ballot.
Jerry Cox, president of the Family Council, said the likelihood of Reed getting the proposal on the ballot is "very very slim" given the short time frame. Cox said the group's political action group would oppose the measure.
"Without a doubt the Family Council Action Committee will oppose any and all attempts to legalize marijuana in Arkansas," Cox said.
Cox said marijuana legalization in Colorado has resulted in a "train wreck" in that state, with children gaining increased access to the drug. He said he doesn't think there is support for such a measure in Arkansas.
"For us to impose more harm on our society is foolish," Cox said.
Metro on 06/05/2014