Arkansas group stresses “no” vote on recreational marijuana Issue 4

Arkansas voters are heading to the polls to decide a number of issues and perhaps none is receiving more attention than Issue 4: recreational marijuana.

After passing medical marijuana back in 2016, Arkansans now have the option of legalizing it for recreational purposes as part of a growing trend across the nation towards legal recreational use. Supporters say the benefits of legalizing marijuana include economic factors, such as job creation and additional tax revenue for the state. They also cite the regulatory effect of legalization – in effect, shifting marijuana from a black market industry to a regulated one.

Opponents, however, point to a number of apparent flaws with this reasoning. The Family Council Action Committee, a Little Rock-based conservative public policy organization, has come out strongly against Issue 4 in the November General Election.

That was Jerry Cox, the group’s executive director. Cox said the Family Council Action Committee has come out against Issue 4 for numerous reasons, including how favorable it is to the industry.

Issue 4, Cox stresses, gives too much authority to the recreational marijuana industry in setting standards, tax obligations and its claim to use revenue to boost police salaries. The bill, he said, doesn’t provide enough industry or regulatory control over recreational marijuana.

The group’s skepticism focuses on more than economic factors. The Family Council Action Committee has also expressed concern over the societal effects of recreational marijuana. Cox said a particular concern is the effect legalized marijuana would have on the growing opioid epidemic in Arkansas.

Cox also pointed out to the ongoing worker shortage in Arkansas and across the nation, and how legalized marijuana could forestall this significant economic issue.

Cox invites voters, both undecided and those who’ve already made up their minds either way about Issue 4, to seek more information through the organization, whose website is www.familycouncilactioncommittee.com

Faith | Family Council Action Committee | Little Rock Family Council Action Committee’s mission is to promote, protect, and strengthen traditional family values in the political arena. www.familycouncilactioncommittee.com

. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Public Policy Center has also released a voter guide detailing each statewide ballot issue as well as the arguments for and against each one. 

Arkansas is not the only state that will decide on recreational marijuana this year. North Dakota, South Dakota, Maryland and Missouri are also featuring similar issues on their ballots. Polling on the issue in all five states shows results are likely to be close.