Recreational Marijuana Amendment Back on Nov. Ballot in Arkansas

It looks like the issue of recreational marijuana is back on the state of Arkansas ballot for November, after the Arkansas Supreme Court ordered Secretary of State John Thurston to certify the ballot title for which Arkansans will have the right to vote for or against the amendment. If voted in favor this would eliminate the use of the medical marijuana card that is required to purchase or use marijuana.

However, because of deadlines that are issued for items to appear on the November ballot, the question remains, “Will the general election votes be counted after a recent setback? According to an Arkansas constitution, any proposed amendment must be properly certified by the Secretary of State by August 25.

The group working to put recreational marijuana on the ballot Responsible Growth Arkansas filed a lawsuit on August 4, after the Board of Elections Commission rejected the amendment title from being on the November ballot. The issue now is that because of the Supreme Court’s schedule, it will not allow the case filed by Responsible Growth Arkansas.

Group organizers who had enough valid petition signatures in order to place it on the ballot have asked the court to make a preliminary injunction to speed up the process with hopes of beating the August 25 deadline.