Arkansas is moving forward with increasing medical marijuana – despite the state government! Akansas is home to the Ozarks and to the famous Crystal Bridges Museum. It is a study of down home America and the future. Bentonville is home of Walmart, the largest physical retailer in North America. Found on their shelves is CBD from the cannabis plant. And now the citizens of the state want expanded medical marijuana. While recreational is far down the rode, Arkansans have a win with the marijuana ballot today.RELATED: Vaping Could Have This Effect On MenThe state approved medical marijuana in 2016. In the last couple of years, the has been a grassroots effort to expanded the program. And recently The medical marijuana proposal was aimed at expanding a measure that the state’s voters approved in 2016. It would have broadened the definition of medical professionals who can certify patients for medical cannabis, expanded qualifying conditions and made medical cannabis cards valid for three years.

In 2023, the state legislature approved and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a bill protecting Arkansas medical cannabis patients’ right to concealed carry of a firearm. The governor leans conservative and has made it clear she is not supportive of the mission. The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment would relax regulations. It would allow like  medical professionals other than doctors to sign off on medical marijuana cards, allow patients ages 21 and up to grow and process marijuana plants at home. Additionally it would and open up eligibility for any medical conditions a health care practitioner considers debilitating instead of the existing qualifying conditions.

Proponents needed to have 90,704 verified votes. Arkansans for Patient Access submitted more than 150,000 signatures.. The state told the group in July it had fallen short of the required number, but had qualified for an additional 30 days to circulate petitions. The group said rejecting 20,000 of its signatures was due to an “arbitrary,” last-minute rule change. The state decided to toss enough votes to leave them short 2,664.

RELATED: Diddy’s Failed Cannabis Investment Saves Industry A Scandal But the The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Wednesday Secretary of State John Thurston must continue verifying signatures to put an amendment loosening medical marijuana laws on the November ballot.  It seems at least 25% will be verified, securing the ballot initiative.Arkansas joins states like Florida where Governor DeSantis is working hard to defeats another ballot initiative popular with voters.  November will yield some interesting outcomes.

The Fresh Toast is a daily lifestyle platform with a side of cannabis. For more information, visit www.thefreshtoast.com.

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