Recreational marijuana use may be on Arkansas General Election ballot in November

This November Arkansans will head to the polls to decide a number of statewide elected offices. But that’s not the only decision state voters may make this year given the possibility of recreational marijuana on this year’s ballot. 

After approving medical marijuana in 2016, Arkansas voters are now being asked to consider legalizing marijuana in the state as part of a growing shift for recreational legalization across the nation.

Last month, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled a marijuana legalization initiative would be included on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot. The legitimacy of the issue, however, remains in question due to a seesawing battle in the court system. That battle is based upon the ballot initiative’s title and concerns over THC content in edible marijuana products.

The campaign to bring recreational marijuana to Arkansas is headed by Responsible Growth Arkansas. The group submitted more than 190,000 signatures over the summer – more than double the required number.

Last week Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced he plans to vote against the legalization of recreational marijuana. He has previously stated his opposition to the initiative in part due to rising marijuana use among teens in states where it has been legalized.

Hutchinson has also questioned the disproportionate influence outside groups have in placing issues on Arkansas ballots. Critics have pointed out the medical marijuana initiative in 2016 as an example of ballot issues that originate from outside the state. These are initiatives, Hutchinson suggests, that would not find sufficient standing in Arkansas without this outside influence.

If the initiative survives the court battle – and is then approved by Arkansas voters – it would allow for the recreational use of marijuana by Arkansans aged 21 and older. It would also incorporate a 10 percent sales tax. Revenue from that tax, say supporters, would help fund law enforcement, drug courts and marijuana research.

Recreational marijuana would be supplied through the state’s existing dispensaries. An additional 40 licenses would be issued through the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Division of the Department of Finance and Administration.

The recreational marijuana issue will not just appear on the Arkansas ballot, but also in a number of other states this year. Those include Maryland, Missouri and South Dakota. Other legalization efforts are also underway in Oklahoma and North Dakota.

Currently 19 states as well as the District of Columbia allow for the recreational use of marijuana.