Governor reveals two vetoes on final day of session

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Gov. Sarah Sanders on Wednesday (April 16) announced two vetoes — a bill veto and a line-item veto — her first two vetoes of the 95th General Assembly.

Her first announced veto was HB 1889, which was sponsored by Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Knoxville, and Sen. Joshua Bryant, R-Rogers.

HB 1889 would amend the limitations on access to a medical marijuana dispensary or cultivation facility. It would also alter the existing law on medical marijuana prescription orders being delivered via a delivery vehicle or drive-thru window.

Governor reveals two vetoes on final day of session

Supreme Court rejects Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Members of the Arkansas Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, have ordered that votes for and against a proposal to expand medical marijuana should not count.

Medical Marijuana - Rawpixel Image

Justices on Monday sided with Protect Arkansas Kids, a group which intervened in the legal challenge against Issue 3, while rejecting the original complaint from Secretary of State John Thurston. While Issue 3 will appear on the ballot this election cycle, votes for and against it will not count.

Issue 3 would have made several changes to the state’s medical marijuana program, which was first approved by voters in 2016. Among other things, the proposal would have loosened licensing requirements, expanded qualifying conditions and healthcare providers able to prescribe the drug, and allowed for medical marijuana patients to grow their own cannabis.

Supreme Court rejects Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment

Supreme Court orders signature count on medical marijuana measure

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

The day after an advocacy group filed a lawsuit over the rejection of its signatures, the Arkansas Supreme Court on Wednesday (Oct. 2) ordered the disputed signatures of a proposed medical marijuana amendment, Issue 3, to be counted and it approved an expedited hearing to decide if the measure would be on the Nov. 5 ballot.

On Monday (Sept. 30), Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston said Arkansans for Patient Access (APA), the ballot question committee seeking approval of Issue 3, did not meet the signature threshold of 90,704. Thurston cited incorrect filings of signatures as his reason for the rejection.

The state’s high court ordered the following actions take place in response to the filing by Arkansans for Patient Access:

• A preliminary injunction is granted;

• Secretary of State John Thurston must verify the disputed signatures;

• The group’s requested hearing on Thurston’s decision will be expedited; and

• A special master will not be appointed to the case, in opposition to APA’s request.

Supreme Court orders signature count on medical marijuana measure

Secretary of State Thurston disqualifies medical marijuana amendment; advocacy group plans lawsuit

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston on Monday (Sept. 30) informed representatives of a group seeking to make changes to the state’s medical marijuana amendment that it had failed to collect enough signatures to make the November ballot. Arkansans for Patient Access, a ballot question committee supporting the measure, vowed to challenge the determination.

Thurston’s letter said only 10,521 signatures collected during a 30-day cure period “were deemed valid.”

“When that number is combined with the number of signatures previously deemed valid in the initial submission, the total number of signatures is 88,040,” Thurston wrote. “For a proposed constitutional amendment, the required number of overall signatures in 2024 is 90,704. Therefore, I am obligated to deem your petition insufficient.”

Secretary of State Thurston disqualifies medical marijuana amendment; advocacy group plans lawsuit

Marijuana amendment group turns in more signatures

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A group attempting to broaden access to medical marijuana in Arkansas says they have finished collecting signatures.

Image by Dave Cameron

Arkansans for Patient Access is attempting to put an amendment on the ballot which, if approved by voters, would widely expand medical marijuana across the state. If the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment passes, it will allow the drug to be prescribed for almost all medical conditions, as opposed to the narrow list of conditions allowed for the drug now.

A month ago, Arkansans for Patient Access turned in well over the roughly 90,000 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot; in total, they turned in 111,402 signatures. Of those, 77,000 were deemed valid by Secretary of State John Thurston, whose office was tasked with counting and validating the signatures for all the proposed amendments. Under Arkansas law, if 75% of the initial signatures are deemed valid, groups are then given a 30-day “cure period” to collect more signatures.

Marijuana amendment group turns in more signatures

Abortion amendment delivers signatures; FOIA, education, ‘pink’ tax fail

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Supporters of an amendment that would legalize abortion in Arkansas submitted signatures to qualify for the November ballot on Friday afternoon (July 5), the last day to do so.

However, efforts to change the state’s education system, enshrine the Freedom of Information Act into the Constitution, and remove the sales tax on diapers and feminine hygiene products, also known as the “pink tax,” fell short of the required number of signatures.

Earlier in the day, signatures were submitted by groups supporting proposed constitutional amendments that would expand medical marijuana access in Arkansas and would revoke the Pope County casino license while allowing for local option voting for casinos.

Abortion amendment delivers signatures; FOIA, education, ‘pink’ tax fail

Arkansas governor’s campaign manager leads abortion amendment opposition group

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Supporters of ballot initiatives on abortion, medical marijuana and education said they’re not concerned about the formation of a new opposition group led by an adviser to Arkansas’ governor.

Stronger Arkansas is chaired by Chris Caldwell, a political consultant who served as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ 2022 gubernatorial campaign manager. Caldwell will also lead her 2026 re-election campaign.

According to a statement of organization filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission on Friday, the ballot question committee is pursuing “the disqualification and/or defeat” of three constitutional amendments, including the Arkansas Abortion Amendment of 2024.

Arkansas governor’s campaign manager leads abortion amendment opposition group

Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate

Petitioners gather signatures for a ballot initiative to expand abortion access in Arkansas during the Voices and Votes rally on Jan. 28, 2024 in Fayetteville.

Arkansas marijuana, patient group resubmits ballot proposal to increase access to medical cannabis

KUAR | By Hunter Field / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

A marijuana industry and patient group has resubmitted language to the attorney general for a ballot measure to expand access to medical cannabis in Arkansas.

Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected the first version of the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Amendment of 2024 due to improper formatting and ambiguities about how the measure would affect existing state laws and rules.

Arkansans for Patient Access on Monday submitted new versions of the proposed constitutional amendment, ballot title and popular name with mostly technical changes, but the new version would also preclude the state Legislature from making changes to constitutional amendments.

Arkansas marijuana, patient group resubmits ballot proposal to increase access to medical cannabis

Modeling estimates $984 million in Arkansas marijuana sales by 2027, tax gain of more than $260 million

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas voter approval in November of adult use (recreational) marijuana could add $2.4 billion to the state’s economy over five full years of implementation, and add up to 6,400 jobs by 2027, according to modeling from the Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI).

The AEDI, housed at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), was commissioned by Responsible Growth Arkansas (RGA) to conduct an economic modeling forecast of legal marijuana sales in Arkansas over a five-year period. RGA is the group that worked to get the proposed amendment on the November general election ballot.

If the issue is approved by voters, it would amend the existing law for medical marijuana and allow those who are at least 21 to purchase cannabis from licensed dispensaries. Existing medical marijuana dispensaries would receive licenses to sell recreational use cannabis at the dispensaries and obtain licenses to establish recreational cannabis dispensaries at another location. Licenses also would be available for additional dispensaries and cannabis cultivation facilities.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/09/modeling-estimates-984-million-in-arkansas-marijuana-sales-by-2027-tax-gain-of-more-than-260-million/

Arkansas recreational marijuana advocates say it could be $1 billion industry

KUAR | By Michael Tilley/ Talk Business & Politics

River Valley Relief in Fort Smith could add up to 150 jobs. Kansas City, Kan.-based Greenlight estimates adding 100 jobs in Arkansas with $2 million in new investment. They’re just two of many medical marijuana companies operating in Arkansas likely to add jobs and investment if voters approve recreational marijuana use for adults in November.

Polling suggests broad support for recreational, or what is also called adult use.

But there will be opposition. Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a former federal prosecutor and head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration under President George W. Bush, is against the November ballot question. He’s encouraging law enforcement groups to come out against the measure, telling members of the Arkansas Municipal Police Association not to be swayed by benefits being promoted by Responsible Growth Arkansas (RGA), the organization that worked to place legalization of recreational use on the November ballot.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-09-15/arkansas-recreational-marijuana-advocates-say-it-could-be-1-billion-industry

Two groups gathering signatures for Arkansas recreational marijuana proposals

KUAR | By Laura Isensee

Two groups are hoping to place proposals on the November ballot in Arkansas that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana. This comes six years after voters approved the use of marijuana for people in the state with certain medical conditions.

Backers of the separate proposed state constitutional amendments are working to gather enough valid petition signatures before a July deadline.

The proposal by Responsible Growth Arkansas would expand the number of grower licenses in the state to 20 and dispensary licenses to 40. Campaign Chairman Eddie Armstrong says it would enable more craft products to be grown.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-05-10/two-groups-gathering-signatures-for-arkansas-recreational-marijuana-proposals

Npr.Org/NPR News

Signatures are being collected by two groups hoping to legalize recreational marijuana in Arkansas.

Carroll County Medical Marijuana Dispensary Applicant Challenges State Selection Process

Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission

A Medical Marijuana Commission map illustrates eight zones within which five ranked medical marijuana dispensaries are licensed by the state to operate.

By Jacqueline Froelich - KUAF

Carroll County Holdings, Inc., a highly ranked dispensary applicant, is challenging the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission selection process claiming the state failed to award it an operating license. The non-trial case is now pending before the Arkansas Supreme Court.

https://www.kuaf.com/show/ozarks-at-large/2022-04-28/carroll-county-medical-marijuana-dispensary-applicant-challenges-state-selection-process

Arkansas marijuana sales top $21 million in February; tax revenue was $2.3 million

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Medical marijuana sales in Arkansas totaled $21.1 million in February, with sales based on tax revenue topping February 2021. Sales for the first two months of 2022 total $41.69 million and 7,389 pounds, according to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).

The DFA reported Tuesday (March 22) that tax revenue from the state’s 37 licensed marijuana dispensaries was $2.333 million in February, above the $2.309 million in February 2021. Taxes collected are 6.5% of regular state sales tax with each purchase by a patient, and a 4% privilege tax on sales from cultivators to dispensaries. Most of the tax revenue is placed in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences National Cancer Designation Trust Fund.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/03/arkansas-marijuana-sales-top-21-million-in-february-tax-revenue-was-2-3-million/

Arkansas-based cannabis fintech hits $2 billion mark; U.S. marijuana sales grow

KUAR | By Michael Tilley/ Talk Business & Politics

North Little Rock-based Abaca has processed more than $2 billion in transactions for the cannabis (marijuana) industry. Growth with the financial technology (fintech) banking company comes as more states in recent years have legalized some form of marijuana use.

The company recently announced it “compliantly” processed the transactions through its “bank-backed financial technology” that provides “normalized financial services for an underbanked industry.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-02-04/arkansas-based-cannabis-fintech-hits-2-billion-mark-u-s-marijuana-sales-grow

Medical marijuana sales in Arkansas near 67,000 pounds through October

KUAR | By Michael Tilley/ Talk Business & Politics

Almost 67,000 pounds – roughly the weight of two F-35 fighter jets – of medical marijuana have been sold in Arkansas since May 2019, with the state collecting just under $45 million in taxes on the sales.

Licensed dispensaries in the state have sold 66,994 pounds of medical marijuana since the first dispensary opened in May 2019, with the value of the sales at $447 million.

Medical marijuana patients purchased 3,527 pounds of medical marijuana from the state’s 37 dispensaries in October, according to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, the parent agency of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission. Most of the tax revenue is placed in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences National Cancer Designation Trust Fund.

The Arkansas Department of Health reports 78,585 active patient cards.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2021-11-16/medical-marijuana-sales-in-arkansas-near-67-000-pounds-through-october

Almost 67,000 pounds of medical marijuana worth $447 million has been sold in Arkansas since the first dispensary opened in May 2019, according to the Department of Finance and Administration.

Arkansas Topping Out on Dispensaries, Active Cases Rise and Collecting Stories of Medicaid

By KYLE KELLAMS

KUAF includes an update on medical marijuana dispensaries in Arkansas, an uptick in active cases of COVID-19 in the states, and the stories and experiences of people with Medicaid in Arkansas.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/arkansas-topping-out-dispensaries-active-cases-rise-and-collecting-stories-medicaid

New Study Examines Arkansas Medical Marijuana Program

By DANIEL BREEN

Arkansas’ medical marijuana program is the subject of a new study examining its link to overall health outcomes.

Researchers with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement will lead the three-year study, funded by a $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

ACHI president and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson says little research exists on the link between medical cannabis and health outcomes.

“We don’t know whether we’re going to have findings that medical marijuana helps, for example, lowering individuals that have pain, their opioid prescription rate, or whether medical marijuana may have unintended effects of having new mental health conditions emerge,” Thompson said.

Arkansas Medical Marijuana Sales Top 50,000 pounds

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Roughly two years after the first medical marijuana dispensary opened in Arkansas, the market has seen the sale of more than 50,000 pounds valued at $338.5 million, according to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, the parent agency of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission.

State taxes on the dispensary sales since May 2019 total just under $34 million. Most of the tax revenue is placed in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences National Cancer Designation Trust Fund.

Following are the top five of the state’s 33 dispensaries with the most medical marijuana sales.
• Releaf Center (Bentonville), first opened Aug. 7, 2019: 5,374.92 pounds
• Green Springs Medical (Hot Springs), first opened May 12, 2019: 4,238.69 pounds
• Natural Relief Dispensary (Sherwood), March 17, 2020: 3,475.65 pounds
• Suite 443 (Hot Springs), first opened May 10, 2019: 3,311.22 pounds
• Acanza (Fayetteville), first opened Sept. 14, 2019: 3,272.23 pounds

ADOBE STOCK

Marijuana Card Holder Sues Over Job Loss

by Mark Friedman

A medical marijuana card holder is suing a northwest Arkansas hospital system for withdrawing a job offer after he tested positive for pot, and he says he’s not alone.

Balance “Lance” Reed of Washington County is seeking class-action status against Northwest Arkansas Hospitals LLC of Springdale, which operates several hospitals including Willow Creek Women’s Hospital and Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville.

Under the law, employers can decide not to hire a medical marijuana patient for a “safety-sensitive position,” such as being a truck driver or manufacturing explosives.

https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/136016/marijuana-card-holder-sues-over-job-loss

More than 40,000 Pounds of Medical Marijuana Sold in Arkansas with Value of $285 Million

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

More than 40,000 pounds of medical marijuana have been sold in Arkansas since the first dispensary opened in May 2019, according to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission (AMMC). A dispensary in Bentonville has sold the most medical marijuana.

The 42,769 pounds sold is valued at $285 million, according to a press release from Scott Hardin, a spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, the parent agency of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission. State taxes on the dispensary sales since May 2019 total just under $30 million. Most of the tax revenue is placed in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences National Cancer Designation Trust Fund.

The AMMC has issued licenses for 38 dispensaries, with 32 dispensaries in operation and six working toward opening. There are 12 dispensaries that have reached at least 2,000 pounds in sales. The Arkansas Department of Health reports 74,779 active patient cards. Over the last 30 days, patients across the state spent an average of $880,000 each day on medical marijuana purchases, according to the AMMC.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/more-than-40000-pounds-of-medical-marijuana-sold-in-arkansas-with-value-of-285-million/