Arkansas
Group won't wait on Arkansas Supreme Court to oppose marijuana amendment • Arkansas Advocate
The Family Council Action Committee on Wednesday announced plans for a statewide tour to urge Arkansans to vote against a proposed measure that would implement changes to the medical marijuana industry.
A conservative nonprofit based in Little Rock, the Family Council Action Committee has opposed the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024 and the Arkansas Abortion Amendment of 2024. The state Supreme Court found that the latter was disqualified due to a paperwork technicality, but whether votes cast on the former will be counted still remains in limbo.
“I think it’s incredibly unfair, though it’s not anybody’s fault. We’re in this situation where we’re on the eve of early voting, and we still don’t know if some measures qualify,” said Executive Director Jerry Cox during a press conference in the state Capitol Wednesday. “That makes it very difficult.”
Early voting in Arkansas starts on Monday, and the Arkansas Supreme Court hasn’t yet ruled on the certification of the proposed medical marijuana constitutional amendment.
Nevertheless, starting next week and extending until Election Day, staff with the Family Council Action Committee will travel to 25 Arkansas cities to share their views on the proposed initiative during public forums. Volunteers in all 75 counties will also help distribute fliers in the community, primarily in churches, Cox said.
Arkansans voted to legalize cannabis for medical use in 2016, though the first products were not sold until 2019. The state now has 37 licensed dispensaries and a billion-dollar medical cannabis industry.
The proposed amendment is intended to improve patient access by removing barriers that inhibit some people from using medical cannabis, primarily those living in rural and low-income areas. The proposed measure would, among other things, eliminate application fees for patient cards and allow health care providers to conduct patient assessments via telemedicine.
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“Patients who need medical marijuana can get it,” Cox said. “Over 100,000 people have medical marijuana cards in Arkansas right now. Access is not a problem.”
Regarding access in rural areas, Cox said he didn’t believe the proposed amendment would help residents because it does not add any additional dispensary locations.
Cox named three primary concerns Wednesday: industry professionals wrote the initiative to give themselves a “permanent monopoly,” children will be harmed by the removal of advertising restrictions, and eliminating the fee for patient cards allows non-Arkansans and “illegal immigrants” to access services funded by taxpayers.
“Imagine Arkansas being a place where people can get free marijuana cards to use marijuana here in our state. And what that might do to certain communities where people congregate,” Cox said. “Imagine illegal immigrants being able to come here and get a free marijuana card. What does that do to our state and what kind of message does that send to the rest of the country where Arkansas becomes this marijuana drug use destination?”
Arkansans for Patient Access, the ballot question committee supporting the proposed amendment, said Cox and the Family Council Action Committee were using fearmongering to tie medical marijuana to the national immigration debate.
“There is no tie,” said committee member Bill Paschall. “To obtain a patient card, a person must hold a valid state identification card and be certified by a licensed Arkansas healthcare provider. The Family Council’s claim is nothing but a scare tactic. The only thing free about a medical marijuana card is that the patient will not have to pay a fee to the state going forward. Patients must still be certified by a doctor, pharmacist, advanced nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant. Today, physicians charge on average $150 for certification, far from free.”
Pashcall continued, “It is silly to think Arkansas will become a destination for marijuana use when twenty-four states now permit recreational use and other medical states have less onerous access requirements.”
In addition to on-the-ground efforts in the state, the Family Council Action Committee has also paid for advertisements on local streaming stations. Cox did not name any services except Spotify, a music platform.
“The thing that really grieves me about this amendment is the fact that I have witnessed very powerful marijuana millionaires manipulate our initiative process to buy their way to the ballot,” Cox said. “What they’re about to do to the people of Arkansas is absolutely awful. And what they’re doing in the name of the almighty God should not happen to our state.”
The Family Council Action Committee also opposed an initiative to legalize recreational cannabis in Arkansas in 2022, which did not secure enough votes. Cox noted this year’s measure was “the same song, different verse.”
Ongoing legal challenge
Secretary of State John Thurston in July validated some 77,000 signatures from Arkansans for Patient Access, and the group was granted 30 additional days to collect signatures to try to reach the required 90,704 signatures to qualify for the ballot.
At the extension’s conclusion, the group turned in nearly 39,000 more signatures, but the validity of those signatures was questioned because an agent signed required paperwork instead of a sponsor.
Thurston deemed the petition insufficient after the additional signatures because of the paperwork technicality, which Arkansans for Patient Access challenged in court.
A few days after Thurston said he would not count signatures that were submitted using an agent’s signature, the Supreme Court ordered him to continue counting.
Two justices have recused themselves from deciding whether votes on the proposed medical marijuana amendment will be counted. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has assigned replacements, and a ruling on the signature issue and whether the ballot name and title are misleading are pending.
In a decision this week regarding another proposed constitutional amendment — one related to casinos in Arkansas — the high court found an agent’s signature in place of a sponsor was acceptable. Cox said Wednesday that the ruling was an indication the state Supreme Court would not disqualify the proposed medical marijuana amendment on that basis.
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After three weeks standing on the verge of bowl eligibility, Arkansas football has its best opportunity to secure a spot in college football’s postseason this weekend against Louisiana Tech.
The Razorbacks (5-5) will host the Bulldogs (4-6) on Saturday (3 p.m., SECN+). Twenty players are projected to take part in Senior Day festivities as Arkansas closes out its home schedule in 2024.
The Hogs are coming off back-to-back losses inside Reynolds Razorback Stadium, most recently falling to Texas 20-10. Arkansas’ offense couldn’t muster enough production across the first two quarters as a comeback bid fell short against the Longhorns.
Louisiana Tech, meanwhile, is coming off its biggest win of the season. The Bulldogs beat conference rival Western Kentucky 12-7, knocking the Hilltoppers out of first place in Conference USA.
Here are four things to watch and a score prediction for Saturday’s contest between Arkansas and Louisiana Tech.
Arkansas football must get off to a fast start
The best way to prevent an upset is to eliminate any hope. Arkansas didn’t do that against UAB in September, and the Razorbacks came out of the gates slow last year in this same spot against FIU. They eventually won both games, but the final scores were closer than desired.
“We’re trying to live up to the Arkansas standard, and that results in executing on the field. And if we don’t live up to that, then we’re going to see a similar slow start,” Arkansas offensive lineman Josh Braun said. “So that’s what we’re focused on this week, just starting fast and playing our brand of football.”
Take care of the football
This is arguably the biggest key for Arkansas every weekend. The Razorbacks are 0-5 when they lose the turnover battle this season, and two costly giveaways spoiled any chance at an upset last week against Texas.
Fortunately for Arkansas, Louisiana Tech ranks 111th in the country in turnover margin. The Bulldogs are averaging nearly two turnovers a game, so this might be an opportune matchup for the Hogs’ defense.
Control the running game on both sides
The Bulldogs have struggled on the ground all season, and they’ve won both games in which they rushed for more than 150 yards. By contrast, they are 2-6 when held under that mark.
Arkansas’ running defense has been strong throughout the year. Only two opponents have averaged more than 4 yards per carry, and the Razorbacks should be able to keep Louisiana Tech running backs Omiri Wiggins and Amani Givens in check.
On the flip side, Arkansas needs to commit to running the football early and stay vigilant with Ja’Quinden Jackson. Relying on the pass too heavily proved a mistake in the first half against Texas, and look for Bobby Petrino to adjust.
All eyes on Tru Edwards
Edwards, a senior wide receiver, is by far Louisiana Tech’s most dangerous weapon. He has four games this season with more than 100 yards receiving and leads the team with six touchdowns.
He’s a big-play threat who will require the full focus of the Arkansas defense. The Razorbacks’ secondary will try to maintain its momentum after holding Quinn Ewers and Isaiah Bond in check last week.
Prediction
Louisiana Tech is better than its record indicates, but there is still a gulf in talent between the two rosters. If Arkansas handles its own business and avoids sloppy turnovers, it should have no problem securing bowl eligibility Saturday. An upset loss would be unacceptable. Arkansas 38, Louisiana Tech 13.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A lot has been made of the poor a attendance at Arkansas Razorbacks basketball games this season.
However, while it’s been somewhat embarrassing at times, it’s not entirely on Razorbacks fans. It’s not anyone’s fault technically. It’s more of a case of a schedule having to be made hastily before there was an opportunity to get to know the nuances of The Natural State.
One thing that is hard for the people of Arkansas to realize without moving away for some extended period of time is how unique the especially close relationship with the local church and the commitment this state’s citizens have to it actually is.
Scheduling the rest of life around church as a non-negotiable is expected. Playing organized sports on Sundays is still still frowned upon in much of the state, as are hunting and fishing in some cases.
Church comes first, whether it be Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night or revival week. Youth league coaches can find themselves pariahs for scheduling practices on Wednesday nights for this very reason.
That’s why excessively low attendance for Wednesday night games shouldn’t be as shocking to those who live here as opposed to people looking from the outside in.
See, one of the biggest adjustments to living outside of Arkansas is the extreme lack of Wednesday night church services. Same goes for revivals.
They’re just not a thing throughout much of the rest of the country, even in states that claim to really be into God. It’s even hard to find legitimate Sunday night services.
At best, there will be a youth program parents use as an excuse for a quick date night. So, that’s why it’s not surprising a coaching staff that didn’t grow up here might think nothing of lining up games on Wednesday nights expecting to get decent weeknight crowds.
However, what happens instead is much smaller crowds that make Hogs fans look disinterested at best. That’s just not likely the case.
They’re interested. Just not until the devotional has been read, the sermon has been preached and the invitation has been sung.
As soon as they get in the parking lot, the first thing they do is turn on the radio and try to catch up with what they have missed. It might seem strange to those from other states, but the priorities are right.
It may look bad on TV, but God, family and then the Razorbacks is the correct order
It’s a minor mistake in scheduling that is easily forgiven and eventually rectified. After all, the seats are still sold out and there are more important things involved in life.
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The Arkansas high school football playoffs are on to Round 2, where several teams will start their postseason quest for a state championship after earning Round 1 byes.
The postseason in Class 2A through 7A plus the 8-man division started last week.
Bryant, Fayetteville, Bentonville and Conway are the 7A teams that will kick off their playoff run in Round 2 this week.
>>Arkansas high school football playoff brackets
Stick with High School on SI for all of the matchups, game times and scores throughout the 2024 Arkansas (AAA) football playoffs.
Here are the Arkansas high school football playoff brackets, with matchups and game times, plus second-round matchups:
Second-round matchups
Bryant vs. Cabot
7 p.m. Friday
Pulaski Academy vs. Fayetteville
7 p.m. Friday
Bentonville vs. Bentonville West
7 p.m. Friday
Rogers vs. Conway
7 p.m. Friday
2024 AAA Class 7A high school football bracket
Second-round matchups
El Dorado vs. Greenwood
7 p.m. Friday
Mountain Home vs. Catholic
7 p.m. Friday
Lake Hamilton vs. Benton
7 p.m. Friday
Shiloh Christian vs. Van Buren
7 p.m. Friday
2024 AAA Class 6A high school football bracket
Second-round matchups
Valley View vs. Morrilton
7 p.m. Friday
Parkview vs. Maumelle
7 p.m. Friday
Robinson vs. Lakeside
7 p.m. Friday
Farmington vs. Camden Fairview
7 p.m. Friday
2024 AAA Class 5A high school football bracket
Second-round matchups
Dardanelle vs. Prairie Grove
7 p.m. Friday
Arkadelphia vs. Gentry
7 p.m. Friday
Heber Springs vs. Southside
7 p.m. Friday
Monticello vs. Hamburg
7 p.m. Friday
Clinton vs. Mills University
7 p.m. Friday
Warren vs. Pocahontas
7 p.m. Friday
Elkins vs. Mena
7 p.m. Friday
Malvern vs. Highland
7 p.m. Friday
2024 AAA Class 4A high school football bracket
Second-round matchups
Bismarck vs. Atkins
7 p.m. Friday
Osceola vs. Charleston
7 p.m. Friday
Fordyce vs. Jessieville
7 p.m. Friday
Booneville vs. Mayflower
7 p.m. Friday
Glen Rose vs. Dumas
7 p.m. Friday
Mansfield vs. Newport
7 p.m. Friday
Salem vs. Prescott
7 p.m. Friday
Rivercrest vs. Rison
7 p.m. Friday
2024 AAA Class 3A high school football bracket
Second-round matchups
Murfreesboro vs. Mount Ida
7 p.m. Friday
East Poinsett County vs. Bigelow
7 p.m. Friday
Conway Christian vs. Des Arc
7 p.m. Friday
Carlisle vs. Junction City
7 p.m. Friday
2024 AAA Class 2A high school football bracket
2024 AAA 8-man high school football bracket
—
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— Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive | @sblivesports
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