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Contact
Kristin Higgins
Public Policy Center
Phone: 501-671-2160
Email: khiggins@uada.edu
Office:
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
2301 S. University Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72204
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
2301 S. University Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72204
Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners Rejects Marijuana, Casino Ballot Titles
The Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners on Wednesday rejected ballot titles of
two proposed constitutional amendments that would legalize recreational marijuana
and remove Pope County as a casino gaming location.
The board's role in approving ballot titles is relatively new and it's likely sponsors
will appeal to the Arkansas Supreme Court.
The seven-member Board of Election Commissioners became responsible for certifying
ballot titles in 2019, when the legislature removed the Attorney General from that
role.
The board is made up of the Secretary of State, two members appointed by the Governor, and one member each appointed by the chair
of the state Democratic party, the chair of the state Republican party, the President
Pro Tempore of the Arkansas Senate, and the Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives.
The board's rejection on Aug. 3 follows Monday's certification from the Secretary
of State that Responsible Growth Arkansas had collected enough voter signatures to
put recreational marijuana on the ballot.
Recreational Marijuana Proposal
The proposal would change Arkansas' medical marijuana amendment from 2016 to allow recreational
sales and the opening of more dispensaries and cultivation facilities.
The group's attorney, Steve Lancaster, spoke in favor of the proposal's ballot title
at the Aug. 3 board meeting and said they went "above and beyond" what's required
explaining to voters the changes in the proposed amendment.
"The perfect ballot title can not be created," Lancaster said, adding that had the
title explained every section that would be deleted from the original law, it would
be longer than the amendment itself.
Two commissioners said they thought the ballot title should more explicitly explain
how the proposal would remove a requirement that foods or drinks combined with marijuana
not exceed 10 mg of THC per portion. The title instead mentioned the proposal would
eliminate an existing section of law. A person must read that section of the law to
know what was being eliminated.
One of those commissioners also said she was concerned that removing requirements
for owners to have background checks could allow people with criminal backgrounds
to own marijuana facilities.
Casino Proposal
Former Attorney General Dustin McDaniel asked the board Wednesday to reject a ballot title seeking to remove Pope County as a casino gaming location.
Pope County is one of four locations approved by voters in 2018. McDaniel is representing
the Cherokee Nation Businesses, which received the casino license for Pope County
after several lawsuits.
McDaniel recalled how when he was responsible for reviewing ballot titles, he thought
it was important to consider why a sponsor was pushing an issue.
Pope County residents who formed Fair Play for Arkansas 2022 received financial support
from the Choctaw Nation for their campaign to eliminate the fourth location. The Choctaw
Nation owns a casino in Oklahoma that is within 100 miles of Pope County.
McDaniel said voters should know the impact on the Cherokee Nation and county if they
lost the license.
"It's an omission great enough to warrant decertification," he said.
Ben Cross, the county judge in Pope County, also asked the board to reject the proposal
because the wording referred to "casinos" rather than "casino," throwing into doubt
the impact the amendment would have if passed.
Read the Citizen-Sponsored Proposals
- Arkansas Adult Use Cannabis Amendment - A proposal to amend the state's existing Medical Marijuana Amendment to allow for
personal use and other changes was submitted by Steven Lancaster of Wright, Lindsey,
and Jennings on behalf of Responsible Growth Arkansas.
- A Constitutional Amendment to Repeal the Authorization for Casinos and Casino Gaming in Pope County, Arkansas - A proposal to remove Pope County as one of the locations in Arkansas where casino gaming is allowed was submitted by Jim Knight of Fair Play for Arkansas 2022.
What's Next?
The Secretary of State's Office has until Aug. 25 to send the official November ballot
to county election commissions.
The 2022 ballot will include three proposed constitutional amendments from the Arkansas
legislature. Find links to those proposals in our August ballot issue newsletter.
We will publish a voter guide online in early September on the final ballot measures.
A printed voter guide will be available at county Extension offices by early October.