The Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, which advocates for agriculture, is opposing a new amendment aimed at expanding access to medical marijuana, but their reasoning seems a bit unclear.
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This past Monday, the organization kicked off a ballot question committee with the Arkansas Ethics Commission to fight against the Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024.
Just two years ago, the Farm Bureau, which represents over 190,000 families in the state, created a committee to oppose an amendment that would have legalized recreational marijuana. Back then, they raised $34,324 and spent it on ads in radio and newspapers.
Interestingly, their recent paperwork with the Ethics Commission didn’t specify why they’re against this new amendment. Steve Eddington, a spokesman for the Farm Bureau, mentioned that their opposition stems from the organization’s overall policy positions on marijuana, but those positions don’t directly tackle this specific amendment.
The Farm Bureau updates its policies every year, usually around Thanksgiving, and right now, there’s nothing specific in their policies that addresses this amendment. The proposed changes would allow more medical professionals—like nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists—to certify patients for medical marijuana. It would also broaden the qualifying conditions beyond the current 18, extend the duration of medical marijuana cards from one year to three, and eliminate the $50 fee. Plus, it would let dispensaries sell pre-rolled joints and allow patients to grow some of their own plants.
“We don’t update policy until the following year, so there are times we don’t have policy that is specific to an amendment, but we have policy around that subject,” Eddington explained via email.
While Eddington shared some of the organization’s marijuana-related policies, none specifically addressed medical marijuana. Most of their policies focus on recreational marijuana, which is for general adult use without a medical professional’s approval. That’s a different ball game from what’s being proposed in the 2024 amendment, although it could pave the way for legalization if it happens federally.
Eddington clarified that their opposition isn’t necessarily tied to the federal legalization trigger, though.
Luke Niforatos, an executive vice president for the national anti-marijuana group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, has called the term “medical” in medical marijuana a “farce.”
I asked Eddington if the Farm Bureau shared that sentiment, lumping all marijuana into the “recreational” category. He assured me that wasn’t the case.
“The state of Arkansas views them as different, so our policy is written as the state sees them,” he said.
The only relevant policy position the Farm Bureau shared that seemed applicable to this year’s amendment was their opposition to any marijuana legalization for commercial motor vehicle license holders. When I asked if they thought medical marijuana cardholders should also be barred from holding other types of driver’s licenses, Eddington clarified that the policy only pertains to commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and doesn’t imply anything further.
The Arkansas Farm Bureau for a Safe and Healthy Arkansas, the new committee they just formed, is actually the third group set up to oppose the medical marijuana expansion. Stronger Arkansas, another committee, was established by several individuals closely connected to Governor Sarah Sanders, including her campaign manager, Chris Caldwell.
Lastly, there’s Protect Arkansas Kids, another group against the medical marijuana measure, which was founded by Jim Bell from Little Rock and has backing from Smart Approaches to Marijuana.
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