Former Arkansas Legislator Launches Cannabis Legalization Campaign |

A group led by a former Arkansas lawmaker has joined the mission of reforming cannabis policy in the state by organizing a group campaigning for a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana. Eddie Armstrong, a former North Little Rock Democratic official, is named chair of Responsible Growth Arkansas on an October 15 filing with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.

The text of the proposed constitutional amendment had not yet been submitted to the Arkansas Secretary of State earlier this week. However, the group’s organizational statement states that media reports said the organization “will advocate the passage of an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to allow regulated adult cannabis sales in the state.”

In an email to reporters, Armstrong wrote that more details of the proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational cannabis will be released in the coming weeks.

Armstrong is a former minority leader of the Arkansas House of Representatives where he served as legislature from 2013 to 2019 – a 2019 article in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

Medical marijuana legalized in 2016

Arkansas voters legalized medical marijuana in 2016 with the passage of Issue 6, a constitutional amendment vote, that garnered 53 percent of the vote. According to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment, patients can receive a doctor’s recommendation that they possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis for the treatment of one or more qualified medical conditions.

Medical marijuana dispensaries began serving patients in 2019. However, legal restrictions on the number of cannabis growers and traders could soon result in patients suffering from inadequate supplies of medicines, says Melissa Fults, medical marijuana attorney.

“There can only be a maximum of 40 pharmacies, and that’s not enough to cover the state of Arkansas,” said Fults. “You kept saying that it would only go to 30,000 patients. We are about to reach 80,000. “

Separate amendment to cannabis legalization also proposed

Responsible Growth Arkansas isn’t the only organization advocating the legalization of adult cannabis in the state. According to a separate voting action from Arkansas True Grass, known as the Arkansas Recreational Marijuana Amendment of 2022, cannabis would be legalized for adults 21 and older, including regulations on growing up to 12 cannabis plants at home. The measure would also release non-violent marijuana offenders from prison, parole and parole, and clear records of previous marijuana convictions.

The proposed constitutional amendment would also create a regulatory structure for the production and sale of recreational marijuana. Adult cannabis sales would be subject to an eight percent marijuana excise tax on top of the state sales tax. Local jurisdictions could also impose a five percent tax on recreational marijuana sales.

Jesse Raphael, a spokesman for Arkansas True Grass, said the adult cannabis effort would also support the state’s medical marijuana program.

“Arkansas medicine is very good, but very expensive for patients. We would be happy if this changes, so that patients can also grow themselves, ”Raphael told local media earlier this month.

In order for either of the two cannabis legalization measures to qualify for election under state law, supporters must collect at least 89,151 signatures from registered voters, which is 10 percent of the votes cast for the governor in the 2018 general election. Under the law passed earlier this year, candidates who collect signatures for proposed campaigns must be Arkansas residents and not be paid per signature. The deadline for collecting signatures ends on July 8, 2022.