Arkansas House of Representatives approved legislation using medical marijuana tax revenue to fund free school breakfasts regardless of eligibility for federally supported reduced-price meal programs.
House lawmakers on Thursday passed SB 59 with an overwhelming vote of 88-4, after making one minor amendment that adjusted co-sponsors of this legislation. Due to these modifications, this revised measure now returns back to the Senate for another vote before going back to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R), who previously supported it.
Rep. Zack Gramlich (R), an Arkansas schoolteacher and co-sponsor of this bill, reported prior to House floor voting: “One in four Arkansas children struggle with hunger,” noting that Arkansas ranks first nationally for food insecurity. When children feel hungry they tend to just lie back down – no learning takes place; all they care about is waiting until lunch arrives!
Gramlich noted that schools will strive to enroll as many students in meal programs at the federal level in order to reduce costs to the state.
“This program is fantastic for our children and districts alike,” the administrator stated, explaining that when families can no longer pay outstanding lunch bills, schools themselves have to cover those costs. Furthermore, “There are plenty of families on the brink… They do not qualify for free and reduced lunch yet can no longer afford feeding their kid. We should do something.”
At least four Republican Representatives opposed this legislation: Hope Duke, Wayne Long, David Ray and Richard Womack voted against it; two additional lawmakers did not cast ballots while six more opted to remain neutral or abstain on voting day.
At an earlier committee hearing this week, Duke expressed her discontent over a bill intended to feed children but created by its costs: she found it “difficult for me to ask other members in my constituency for money towards these particular students,” she told them.
Last week, the state Senate unanimously passed Senate Education Committee Bill 26-3 with 26-2 voting margin.
Governor Wendy Walker previewed her cannabis policy reform bill during last month’s State of the State address, featuring former Trump press secretary Sarah Sanders – an opponent to cannabis policy reform efforts for some time now.
She promised in her speech: “With these funds we will also offer school breakfast free to any child that wishes to participate,” and that this program would remain sustainable over time thanks to medical marijuana sales proceeds.
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Prior to November’s elections, Sanders voiced her opposition to a ballot initiative which would have expanded Arkansas’ medical marijuana program–an attempt that ultimately was blocked by the Supreme Court of Arkansas. A survey discovered that most likely Arkansas voters supported such an expansion initiative.
Though she opposed Sanders’ original proposal for medical cannabis reforms, she has shown openness towards maintaining and revamping existing programs with modest reforms such as passing legislation to allow patients access to concealed carry licenses despite federal prohibition of possession by cannabis users. For instance, 2023 she signed into law an amendment clarifying this right for medical cannabis patients to acquire concealed carry permits even though federal law restricts their ability to own firearms.
Medical cannabis in Oregon has proven popular since it launched last January, with state officials noting in May that over 102,000 residents had signed up for patient cards – surpassing expectations and surpassing state officials’ predictions of enrollment levels.
However, Arkansas voters rejected a ballot initiative seeking to more broadly legalize marijuana for adults by 2022. Russia Says It Has Arrested Yet Another American For Cannabis Days After High-Profile Release Of U.S. Medical Marijuana Patient
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