Marijuana proponents suffered a blow two years ago when Arkansas voters defeated a proposal to legalize the drug for recreational use.
But they are still at it, this time taking an incremental approach.
Come November, voters may be able to expand the state's medical marijuana law in a way that would allow more people to access the drug.
This week, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin approved ballot language for the proposed Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024.
The proposal expands the state's medical marijuana program approved by voters in 2016.
Right now there is a list of less than two dozen conditions that qualify a person for legal marijuana use in the state. The amendment would expand that to include any condition a health care provider decides cannabis would help.
The term "health care provider" is important. Under current law only a physician can authorize a person to receive a state medical marijuana card. The amendment would expand that to allow pharmacists, physicians' assistants and nurse practitioners the same privilege. It would allow consultation via telemedicine rather than requiring a person to visit the provider's office.
Medical marijuana cards would be good for three years before renewal, instead of the current yearly renewal requirement.
And for the first time in the state, persons with a medical marijuana card would be able to grow up to seven marijuana plants at home for their own use.
Now that the language has been approved, supporters must collect the required signatures to get the measure on the ballot.
They'll likely succeed and it may well pass. Expanded medical use is an easier goal than recreational. But no matter what happens in November, the push for legal access to cannabis will march on.
That's because marijuana is no longer something limited to society's fringes. It's an industry, a big business, and its booming. There's a lot or money at stake here, both for companies in the business and for states eager for more tax revenue.
Does anyone really think that genie can be forced back in the bottle?