Group supporting Arkansas recreational marijuana initiative contends it’s exceeded state’s standards

A group proposing a referendum to legalize recreational marijuana argues in a recently filed Arkansas Supreme Court reply that it not only met but exceeded state requirements when informing voters about amendments in a proposed referendum.

Responsible Growth Arkansas filed its response Friday to an Arkansas attorney general’s brief that supports a decision by the State Board of Election Commissioners to keep the referendum off the November ballot. The commission’s decision focused on the ballot title’s not setting a limit on the level of THC in marijuana products.

Responsible Growth Arkansas filed last month requesting that the court put the referendum back on the November ballot. The court issued a preliminary injunction to keep it on the ballot until a final ruling is issued.

Responsible Growth Arkansas says it has collected more than 192,000 signatures from registered voters who support the amendment. Constitutional amendments need about 90,000 signatures to be placed on a ballot.

The referendum would amend Arkansas Amendment 98, passed by voters in 2016. The ballot initiative legalized medical marijuana in the state.

A brief filed by the state late last month says the group’s ballot title is misleading.

“As determined by the Board, the Ballot Title here is misleading because it fails to inform voters that it will repeal the 10 milligram limit of THC per portion for edibles,” the attorney general’s office said in its brief.

[Read more at Arkansas Democrat-Gazette]