Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Little Rock - Groups trying to get casino legalization, medical marijuana and limits on medical lawsuits before Arkansas voters submitted thousands of signatures to election officials on Friday in hopes of qualifying for the November ballot.
The groups submitted their petitions for the three proposed constitutional amendments throughout the day Friday, the deadline to turn in signatures for the November ballot. Proposed amendments need at least 84,859 signatures from registered voters to qualify.
The medical marijuana and casino legalization campaigns said they likely fell short of the required signatures, but believed they had enough to qualify for another 30 days to circulate petitions. The campaigns get the additional time if officials find they gathered at least 75 percent of the verified signatures needed.
"What we've been able to pull together in just over a month I think is very significant," said Robert Coon, a spokesman for the pro-casino group, which began gathering signatures last month. "I think it speaks to the reception we've gotten around the state."
Arkansas Wins, which submitted 92,279 signatures, has proposed legalizing casinos in Boone, Miller and Washington counties. The group last month announced it had struck a deal with Cherokee Nation Entertainment to run the Washington County casino if voters approve the measure.
Arkansans United for Medical Marijuana submitted 106,268 signatures. If the measure is approved for the ballot, it'll mean voters will face competing medical marijuana proposals this fall. The secretary of state's office on Thursday verified that another group, Arkansans for Compassionate Care, turned in enough signatures to qualify. Arkansas voters narrowly rejected a medical marijuana proposal in 2012.
Arkansans for Compassionate Care has called on Arkansans United for Medical Marijuana to drop its campaign, but sponsor David Couch said he has no plans to do so. He said he believed voters would back his proposal and noted that, unlike the measure already approved for the ballot, his doesn't include a provision allowing patients to grow their own marijuana if they don't live near a dispensary.
"I think that while the concept of medical marijuana has progressed by leaps and bounds in Arkansas, it's still stuck in the same category as personal or recreational use when it's grow your own," Couch said.
Aside from battling each other, the measures will likely face significant opposition from conservative groups and law enforcement if they appear on the ballot. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a former head of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, opposes the legalization measures and has encouraged the state's medical community to share their concerns about them.
The conservative Family Council Action Committee has said it plans to campaign against the marijuana and casino legalization proposals if they make the ballot.
Health Care Access for Arkansans turned in 131,687 signatures for its proposed amendment to allow the Legislature to cap non-economic damages awarded for medical injury against health care providers, with a minimum cap of $250,000. The proposal would also put a limit on the contingency fees attorneys could receive in medical injury cases.
Chase Dugger, a spokesman for the group, said he was confident it would have more than enough valid signatures to qualify without additional time for circulating petitions.
"There is no doubt that Arkansans see the need to rein in greedy trial attorneys," Dugger said in a statement.
The three campaigns had each reported hiring more than 200 signatures gatherers. The secretary of state's office has 30 days to determine whether the groups have turned in enough valid signatures, and will have about 60 temporary employees check the petitions.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: 3 Groups Submit Petitions For Arkansas Ballot Measures
Author: Andrew Demillo
Contact: (479) 968-5252
Photo Credit: Reuters
Website: Courier News
The groups submitted their petitions for the three proposed constitutional amendments throughout the day Friday, the deadline to turn in signatures for the November ballot. Proposed amendments need at least 84,859 signatures from registered voters to qualify.
The medical marijuana and casino legalization campaigns said they likely fell short of the required signatures, but believed they had enough to qualify for another 30 days to circulate petitions. The campaigns get the additional time if officials find they gathered at least 75 percent of the verified signatures needed.
"What we've been able to pull together in just over a month I think is very significant," said Robert Coon, a spokesman for the pro-casino group, which began gathering signatures last month. "I think it speaks to the reception we've gotten around the state."
Arkansas Wins, which submitted 92,279 signatures, has proposed legalizing casinos in Boone, Miller and Washington counties. The group last month announced it had struck a deal with Cherokee Nation Entertainment to run the Washington County casino if voters approve the measure.
Arkansans United for Medical Marijuana submitted 106,268 signatures. If the measure is approved for the ballot, it'll mean voters will face competing medical marijuana proposals this fall. The secretary of state's office on Thursday verified that another group, Arkansans for Compassionate Care, turned in enough signatures to qualify. Arkansas voters narrowly rejected a medical marijuana proposal in 2012.
Arkansans for Compassionate Care has called on Arkansans United for Medical Marijuana to drop its campaign, but sponsor David Couch said he has no plans to do so. He said he believed voters would back his proposal and noted that, unlike the measure already approved for the ballot, his doesn't include a provision allowing patients to grow their own marijuana if they don't live near a dispensary.
"I think that while the concept of medical marijuana has progressed by leaps and bounds in Arkansas, it's still stuck in the same category as personal or recreational use when it's grow your own," Couch said.
Aside from battling each other, the measures will likely face significant opposition from conservative groups and law enforcement if they appear on the ballot. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a former head of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, opposes the legalization measures and has encouraged the state's medical community to share their concerns about them.
The conservative Family Council Action Committee has said it plans to campaign against the marijuana and casino legalization proposals if they make the ballot.
Health Care Access for Arkansans turned in 131,687 signatures for its proposed amendment to allow the Legislature to cap non-economic damages awarded for medical injury against health care providers, with a minimum cap of $250,000. The proposal would also put a limit on the contingency fees attorneys could receive in medical injury cases.
Chase Dugger, a spokesman for the group, said he was confident it would have more than enough valid signatures to qualify without additional time for circulating petitions.
"There is no doubt that Arkansans see the need to rein in greedy trial attorneys," Dugger said in a statement.
The three campaigns had each reported hiring more than 200 signatures gatherers. The secretary of state's office has 30 days to determine whether the groups have turned in enough valid signatures, and will have about 60 temporary employees check the petitions.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: 3 Groups Submit Petitions For Arkansas Ballot Measures
Author: Andrew Demillo
Contact: (479) 968-5252
Photo Credit: Reuters
Website: Courier News
