Arkansas medical marijuana expansion votes deemed invalid

The Arkansas Supreme Court has ruled that votes for a proposal to expand medical marijuana in the 2024 elections will not count due to misleading ballot title and popular name that do not meet state law requirements. The ruling, issued by Associate Justice Shawn Womack, stated that the proposed amendment was not limited to medical marijuana as suggested, but had broader provisions including recreational use if marijuana is decriminalized at the federal level. The decision also included a provision that would require voter approval for any changes to constitutional amendments. The ruling was met with dissent from Justice Cody Hiland, who disagreed that the popular name and ballot title were misleading. The group behind the measure, Arkansans for Patient Access, expressed disappointment at the ruling and vowed to continue fighting for expanded access to marijuana. The ruling has sparked debate and controversy among stakeholders in Arkansas as the state moves forward with its medical marijuana program.

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