Arkansas Supreme Court asked to certify medical marijuana measure for 2024 ballot

The group behind a proposed medical marijuana ballot measure asked the Arkansas Supreme Court Tuesday to vacate the secretary of state’s rejection of its proposal, require the counting of submitted signatures and certify the measure for November’s election.

Little Rock attorney Stephen Lancaster filed a 16-page complaint on behalf of Arkansans for Patient Access and ballot question committee member Bill Paschall that challenges Secretary of State John Thurston’s “thwarting of the will of the people their right to adopt laws by initiative.”

Petitioners also filed a motion to expedite the case, appoint a special master and for a preliminary injunction. Meanwhile, Protect Arkansas Kids, a ballot question committee opposed to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024, filed its own motions Tuesday afternoon, including one to intervene in the case and another requesting a separate briefing.

Thurston on Monday said his office validated 88,040 signatures in support of Arkansans for Patient Access’ measure, 2,664 short of the 90,704 required for a proposed constitutional amendment to qualify for the ballot.



https://arkansasadvocate.com/2024/10/01/arkansas-supreme-court-asked-to-certify-medical-marijuana-measure-for-2024-ballot/