By Jon Hiltz

 

The next two days will be one of the most exciting emotional rollercoasters in the history of the modern world. No matter who you are, Democrat or Republican, American or other, the votes cast by the citizens of the United States will have an impact on your life in some way.

Of all the people and topics up for election, marijuana is one of the most contentious, as nine states vote on the future of cannabis within their borders this week. One of those states is Arkansas, where ballots will contain two questions regarding medical marijuana, but only one of those queries will be valid.

Originally, Issue 6 and Issue 7 were to appear as a cannabis duo, even though they both laid out a significantly different framework for medical marijuana legislation.

Issue 6 would allow medical cannabis for seventeen conditions including cancer, glaucoma, HIV, Hepatitis C, and other debilitating diseases. Patients would be able to purchase their prescription from dispensaries, and those facilities will be inspected by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. As well, only a licensed cultivator or licensed dispensary would be allowed to grow medical marijuana.

Issue 7 is the forgotten step-child that was cast out at the last minute when the Arkansas Supreme Court invalidated 12,104 signatures. The court found that the team behind the initiative did not perform the required police background checks within the correct time period, in addition to several other factors.

It’s important to note that if Issue 7 were to have gone ahead, it would have allowed for significantly more health conditions to qualify for MMJ, as well as allowing patients to grow their own medicine.

Because this Supreme Court decision was made on October 27th, the question will still be on the ballot but will carry about as much weight as a salad bar at a Southern BBQ.

Will Issue 6 usher in a new era of medicine to the people of The Natural State?

A poll that was conducted last month by the University of Arkansas showed that 51% of Arkansans will vote yes for medical marijuana, but it is still unclear if that number has changed as a result of the Supreme Court ruling.

Arkansas’ Governor Asa Hutchinson (R), former head of the DEA, has been campaigning against Issue 6. He has gone on record “hoping that Arkansas voters continue to study this and vote to protect Arkansans.”

For the moment it looks like Issue 6 could pass by a small margin, in a state that has been strongly voting Republican since 2008. That means even if Issue 6 makes it by only a few votes, it will still be a big win for cannabis.