Arkansans voted to legalize cannabis for medical use in 2016, though the first products were not sold until 2019. The Arkansans for Patient Access ballot question committee said July 5 it submitted 111,402 signatures from 62 counties to put the proposed Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024 on the ballot.
Thurston's office counted 108,512 signatures, 77,000 of which were valid, he wrote in a letter to the ballot question committee. The valid signatures account for 85% of the required minimum.
Arkansas law allows sponsors of proposed ballot measures more time to submit additional signatures if the initial submission contains valid signatures from registered voters equal to at least 75% of the overall required number of signatures and 75% of the required number from at least 50 counties.
Arkansans for Patient Access has until Aug. 30 to submit more signatures, Thurston wrote.
Supporters have said the proposed amendment aims to improve patient access to medical cannabis, especially for those with lower incomes and people living in rural areas where access to primary care physicians is limited.
Read more at arkansasadvocate.com