Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
The Legislature's go-to House represenative for Arkansas' medical marijuana program filed several more medical marijuana-related bills Thursday, while another legislator filed a bill to halt the program in its entirety.
On Thursday afternoon Sen. Jason Rapert of Bigelow filed Senate Bill 238, which calls for delaying the state's medical marijuana program until 180 days after the federal government changes the law to allow it.
"It's illegal. I can't change that," Rapert told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Thursday. "There is a willful ignorance about this that has got to stop."
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment allows Arkansans with certifiable medical conditions to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana every 14 days from dispensaries stocked with plants grown from in-state cultivation facilities.
Use of the drug continues to be illegal at the federal level, although President Barack Obama directed the federal government to leave marijuana decisions to the states. President Donald Trump has not commented on the issue publicly since taking office.
SB238 was assigned to the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor after being filed Thursday, legislative records show.
"If we were to ban marijuana now by hook or crook, we're arrogant and we ought to be run out of office," Rep. Doug House of North Little told the Democrat-Gazette.
House, who filed a trio of medical marijuana-related bills on Thursday, voted against the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment but has been tasked by legislative leadership of making the program functional.
House's bills filed Thursday would change where taxes from medical marijuana are allocated, allow the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission to regulate advertising and promotion, and require those associated with either dispensaries or cultivation facilities to undergo background checks.
House Bill 1369 would require that the state is reimbursed for enforcement and regulation of the medical marijuana program before other entities receive money generated by the program.
It would remove a requirement that half of the program's revenue go toward a vocational and technical training fund. Instead, excess funds would go to the state's general revenue fund.
House Bill 1370 would allow the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission to regulate artwork, building signs, indoor displays and other forms of marketing. As part of that bill, the commission would also regulate the shape and flavors of any marijuana products.
House introduced an amendment Friday to HB1370 that would require child-proof packaging on medical marijuana products.
David Couch, the Little Rock attorney who sponsored the medical marijuana amendment, said HB1370 would allow the commission to control the design and flavors of marijuana-laced "edibles," but not ban them outright.
House Bill 1371 would require the Medical Marijuana Commission to administer a criminal background check of any owner, board member or officer of a dispensary or cultivation facility.
HB1371 would also require the commission to award licenses to human beings, as opposed to corporate entities.
All three House bills were assigned to the House Rules Committee on Thursday. That committee deals with any legislation regarding alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, tobacco products, vending machines and parimutual betting.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Dueling Bills Would Amend, Halt Medical Marijuana
Author: Scott Liles
Contact: The Baxter Bulletin
Photo Credit: Craig F. Walker
Website: The Baxter Bulletin
On Thursday afternoon Sen. Jason Rapert of Bigelow filed Senate Bill 238, which calls for delaying the state's medical marijuana program until 180 days after the federal government changes the law to allow it.
"It's illegal. I can't change that," Rapert told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Thursday. "There is a willful ignorance about this that has got to stop."
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment allows Arkansans with certifiable medical conditions to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana every 14 days from dispensaries stocked with plants grown from in-state cultivation facilities.
Use of the drug continues to be illegal at the federal level, although President Barack Obama directed the federal government to leave marijuana decisions to the states. President Donald Trump has not commented on the issue publicly since taking office.
SB238 was assigned to the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor after being filed Thursday, legislative records show.
"If we were to ban marijuana now by hook or crook, we're arrogant and we ought to be run out of office," Rep. Doug House of North Little told the Democrat-Gazette.
House, who filed a trio of medical marijuana-related bills on Thursday, voted against the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment but has been tasked by legislative leadership of making the program functional.
House's bills filed Thursday would change where taxes from medical marijuana are allocated, allow the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission to regulate advertising and promotion, and require those associated with either dispensaries or cultivation facilities to undergo background checks.
House Bill 1369 would require that the state is reimbursed for enforcement and regulation of the medical marijuana program before other entities receive money generated by the program.
It would remove a requirement that half of the program's revenue go toward a vocational and technical training fund. Instead, excess funds would go to the state's general revenue fund.
House Bill 1370 would allow the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission to regulate artwork, building signs, indoor displays and other forms of marketing. As part of that bill, the commission would also regulate the shape and flavors of any marijuana products.
House introduced an amendment Friday to HB1370 that would require child-proof packaging on medical marijuana products.
David Couch, the Little Rock attorney who sponsored the medical marijuana amendment, said HB1370 would allow the commission to control the design and flavors of marijuana-laced "edibles," but not ban them outright.
House Bill 1371 would require the Medical Marijuana Commission to administer a criminal background check of any owner, board member or officer of a dispensary or cultivation facility.
HB1371 would also require the commission to award licenses to human beings, as opposed to corporate entities.
All three House bills were assigned to the House Rules Committee on Thursday. That committee deals with any legislation regarding alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, tobacco products, vending machines and parimutual betting.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Dueling Bills Would Amend, Halt Medical Marijuana
Author: Scott Liles
Contact: The Baxter Bulletin
Photo Credit: Craig F. Walker
Website: The Baxter Bulletin
