LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A measure looking to further open medical marijuana access in Arkansas looks to now be off the November 2024 ballot.
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A measure seeking to expand medical marijuana access in Arkansas has been removed from the November 2024 ballot. Despite efforts by Arkansans for Patient Access to gather the required signatures, the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office determined that the combined valid signature count was 88,040, short of the 90,704 needed for ballot inclusion.
The advocacy group claimed to have submitted over 150,000 signatures and accused the state of political interference, alleging that 20,000 signatures were disqualified due to a “last-minute clerical rule change.” While the exact reasons for the disqualifications weren't detailed in the official notice, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office said signatures could be disqualified for various reasons, such as unregistered voters or illegible forms.
Arkansans for Patient Access has promised to pursue legal action against the disqualification decision, continuing their push to expand medical marijuana access in the state. This comes after other ballot measures in Arkansas this year faced similar disqualification issues, including a proposed abortion amendment and a casino license vote in Pope County. The group plans to file a lawsuit regarding this decision soon, with Election Day set for November 5, 2024.
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