Arkansas’ Republican Governor vetoed legislation that allowed dispensaries to sell medical marijuana through drive-thru window. The bill also eased certain regulations for caregivers and patients regarding delivery of marijuana.
After a bill from Rep. Aaron Pilkington was narrowly approved by the Legislature, Governor Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders returned the measure on Wednesday with a message of veto.
Sanders stated that “this legislation would increase access to marijuana usable, so I will veto this legislation.”
The text of the bill states that licensed dispensaries are authorized to deliver “usable marijuana” to qualified patients or caregivers via the drive-through windows located in the dispensary.
Customers would not have been able to pick up products the same day as the online transaction if they had placed an order.
The law would also allow for visitors to be allowed to tour both cultivation and dispensary facilities. The measure would allow for the delivery of conventional medical marijuana to be made by one employee instead of currently requiring two. This is if extra security measures are implemented.
He didn’t mention any specifics about the bill. Instead, he simply voiced his opposition to expanding cannabis access.
This is despite Sanders signing a separate law into effect in February that would use the medical marijuana tax revenues to fund breakfast for school students. The expansion of lawful patient accessibility would probably mean that more tax dollars were available to fund this initiative.
Ahead of last year’s election, the governor opposed a ballot initiative that would have expanded Arkansas’s medical marijuana program—a measure ultimately scuttled by the state Supreme Court.
—
MEDCAN24 tracks hundreds of marijuana, psychedelics, and drug policy legislation in state legislatures this year. Patreon members who pledge at least $25/month gain access to interactive maps, charts, and hearing schedules so that they do not miss anything.
Discover more about the marijuana bills tracker. Become a patron on Patreon for access.
—
A survey found that a majority of likely voters in Arkansas were in favor of the initiative.
Sanders, despite her opposition to this proposal, has expressed an openness to adopting modest reforms and maintaining the current medical cannabis program. For example, in 2023 she signed a bill into law clarifying that medical marijuana patients can obtain concealed carry licenses for firearms despite federal law still prohibiting cannabis users from possessing guns.
The state’s medical marijuana has proved popular since its implementation in 2019, with officials announcing last May that at least 102,000 residents have registered for patient cards, exceeding expectations.
However, Arkansas voters rejected a ballot initiative to more broadly legalize marijuana for adults in 2022.
Delaware Senators approve a marijuana bill passed by the House to address a dispute with FBI that threatens to delay recreational market launch
Philip Steffan provided the photo.
MEDCAN24 would not be possible without the support of readers. Consider a Patreon subscription if our marijuana advocacy journalism is what you use to keep informed.
