Here’s why the Arkansas government opposes weed legalization

Through Nina Zdinjak

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is encouraging law enforcement to “stand firm” against legalizing marijuana after the proposed measure legalizing adult-use cannabis was blocked from appearing on the state ballot in November.

“And the reason I’m against it is simply because it will increase marijuana use,” Hutchinson said at the Arkansas Municipal Police Association convention. “I believe marijuana is a harmful drug. It’s that simple. I look back to Alaska. In the ’70s, they decriminalized marijuana. Marijuana use increased dramatically, especially among their teens, and Alaska reversed course and criminalized marijuana again.”



Hours before the initiative was dismissed, Hutchinson urged law enforcement officials to prepare for the marijuana legalization debate, which he believed could end in November’s election, The Sentinel-Record reported.

“Now they will sell this as something that will help law enforcement. Fifteen percent of marijuana sales tax revenue goes to a law enforcement grant support fund, 10 percent of that goes to the UAMS in Little Rock, and five percent goes to drug courts,” the governor said.

RELATED: Arkansas’ cannabis legalization vote was defeated despite collecting more than enough signatures — here’s why

“And so they are once again selling a harmful drug to the citizens of Arkansas based on promises that look good. Well, those promises could come true, but I think you need to be prepared for that debate.”

Photo by PhotoAlto/Katarina Sundelin/Getty Images

The governor noted that polls were tight with only 54% of voters backing the initiative.

“It’s going to take a lot of education to change that climate and show voters that it would actually be harmful,” he said.

Why was the initiative rejected?

The state Board of Election Commissioners rejected the proposal’s electoral title and popular name, despite receiving enough signatures to qualify for the November election.

The commissioner said the initiative was rejected because the title of the ballot was not precise enough, citing permissible THC levels in edible cannabis products.

RELATED: Arkansas medicinal cannabis company sued for increasing THC levels

“If I’m a voter, I might be for it, but I want to preserve that edible line,” Commissioner J. Harmon Smith said.

Responsible Growth Arkansas attorney Steve Lancaster said they plan to appeal to the Supreme Court.

“The kind of detail that the board expected or requested in this case would make our ballot thousands and thousands of words long,” Lancaster told reporters after the vote. “That’s just not practical for a vote.”

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.