State surpasses 100K medical marijuana sufferers as modification battle heats up

MORE PATIENTS: Energetic affected person playing cards have surpassed 100,000.

Arkansas now has greater than 100,000 energetic medical marijuana affected person playing cards — a milestone reached this week as a bunch begins gathering signatures to put an growth of the state’s medical marijuana program on the November poll. 

In its newest replace on April 13, the state Division of Finance and Administration reported 102,222 energetic playing cards, a rise of greater than 8,000 from the 93,977 energetic playing cards a yr in the past. 

Invoice Paschall, govt director of the Arkansas Hashish Business Affiliation, gave credit score for the rise in playing cards to affected person advocates who’ve held occasions to coach the general public about medical marijuana and the way to get a card.

The affiliation is working with affected person advocate Melissa Fults and the Nationwide Group for the Reform of Marijuana Legal guidelines (NORML) to carry occasions across the state to coach the general public and supply docs to carry out certifications.

“We’re working arduous to get extra sufferers,” Fults mentioned. “That’s our aim: To get all of the sufferers that have to be sufferers.”

Fults mentioned she’s holding occasions the place sufferers might be licensed for $50 in areas with restricted entry or with many low-income individuals who may not be capable of receive a card in any other case. Fults plans to carry occasions in Texarkana, West Memphis, Pine Bluff, Monticello and El Dorado by June.

Arkansans can even be capable of signal the petition to place the proposed medical marijuana growth modification on the poll, she mentioned. 

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Modification of 2024 would permit pharmacists, nurse practitioners and doctor assistants to certify sufferers for this system along with docs. The measure would additionally permit these well being care professionals to certify sufferers for any debilitating sickness, not simply the 18 qualifying circumstances below present legislation.

The measure would additionally get rid of the state prohibition on pre-rolled marijuana and would permit sufferers to develop as much as seven mature hashish crops of their very own.  

The hashish affiliation can be working with Ask Ethel, a bunch of business professionals who maintain occasions throughout the state to coach the general public about medical marijuana. The group is led by Annie Iselin of BOLD Workforce in Cotton Plant and Ryan Kenaga of River Valley Aid Cultivation in Fort Smith. 

The following Ask Ethel occasions shall be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Might 18 in Jonesboro, Fayetteville, Mountain Residence, Little Rock, Texarkana, Heber Springs, West Memphis and Scorching Springs. (Arkansans could not be capable of signal petitions at these occasions, since Iselin mentioned she doesn’t promote or promote something at Ask Ethel occasions.) 

Iselin can even maintain occasions with docs tomorrow in Pine Bluff and in Blytheville on Might 11, she mentioned. Arkansans can signal the medical marijuana modification petitions at these occasions, she mentioned.

The modification wants 90,704 verified signatures by July 5 to make the poll. The marketing campaign has 250 paid canvassers plus volunteers gathering signatures throughout the state, Paschall mentioned. 

Arkansans can signal the petition on the state’s 38 dispensaries in addition to on the marketing campaign’s headquarters at 900 S. Rodney Parham and in Colt Sq. in Fayetteville. 

Stronger Arkansas, a poll query committee aligned with Gov. Sarah Sanders, fashioned final month to oppose the medical marijuana growth proposal and a number of other different amendments. The group reported this week that it has raised $250,000, all from businessman Ronnie Cameron. Cameron, the chairman of hen firm Mountaire, donated $1.25 million to a bunch that labored to defeat an adult-use or “leisure” marijuana modification in Arkansas in 2022. 

Paschall mentioned the governor has been “very clear” that she’s not a supporter of medical marijuana. 

The Arkansas Household Council has additionally fashioned a committee to oppose some amendments proposed for 2024, together with the medical marijuana modification. The group reported this week it has raised $20,577.

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