Recreational marjuana could potentially be on the Nov. 8 ballot this year, with five petitioning organizations campaigning across the state. 

Groups like Arkansas True Grass and Responsible Growth Arkansas began campaigning in 2020, but their plans were halted by COVID-19. With restrictions lifted, the groups have reignited their efforts. 

In order for a proposed amendment to make it onto the ballot, a group must collect ten percent of the amount of votes cast for the most recent governor election. For this initiative, that number is 89,151. 

Signatures must come from at least 15 of Arkansas counties and must be submitted four months before the election. The deadline for this year is July 8. 

Even if these conditions are met, the issue must still be certified by the secretary of state, who verifies that enough signatures were collected. If the initiative meets all of these requirements, it goes on the ballot. 

Responsible Growth Arkansas, chaired by former Democratic state representative Eddie Armstrong, has an amendment titled the Arkansas Adult Use Cannabis Amendment. The proposed measure would legalize marijuana for people 21 and older, as well as authorizing the commercial sale of marijuana. 

In addition, the initiative would use portions of tax dollars for the state court and law enforcement systems. It aims to reform existing drug laws and remove taxes from the medical marijuana program.

“It’s an opportunity for people to have a pathway to work. (It reinvests) in communities that were most impacted by drug crimes of the past,” Armstrong told THV11.

Another initiative has been proposed by Arkansas True Grass, a volunteer-based grassroots organization. Titled the Arkansas Recreational Marijuana Amendment of 2022, it also aims to legalize recreational marijuana for adults aged 21 and older, but with some key differences.

It would allow people to cultivate up to 12 cannabis plants at home and release nonviolent marijuana offenders from prison, probation and parole. It would also expunge records of previous marijuana charges.

Furthermore, Arkansas True Grass’s measure would create a regulatory structure for recreational marijuana production and sale. Cannabis sales would be subject to an eight percent marijuana tax on top of state sales tax.

“We’re trying to free the plant and free the people, because we don’t believe it is a dangerous substance,” said Briana Boling, spokesperson for Arkansas True Grass. 

Petitioners from the various organizations work across the state. Some have even been sent to Arkansas State University.

In the March 2 edition of the Herald, it was reported that two paid petitioners from the company Advanced Micro Targeting came to campus on Feb. 28 in an attempt to gather signatures. 

The petitioners, Carissa McNamee and Aaron Klemmer, traveled to highly trafficked locations across Jonesboro and Paragould, working toward the 89,151 signature goal. At the time of the Herald’s report, they had gathered around 1,000 signatures.

“I’ve seen a lot of people do worse things that are legal, such as alcohol. I just don’t see the point in this, we’re losing a lot of money as a state,” Klemmer said.

Responsible Growth Arkansas reported they have collected 35,000 signatures. Arkansas True Grass said they had over 35,000, but plan to have a full signature count by the end of May. 

Boling said despite large public support, part of the reason for the difficulty for passing recreational marijuana laws is due to the medical marijuana industry’s control on the market.

“They’re locking it down to where they’ll be the only ones able to make money and at that rate, they can sell a poor quality product for a high dollar,” Boling said. “You can expect to pay anywhere from $25 on the low end and $50-60 on the high end for an eighth of an ounce. That’s ridiculous and it’s not right.”

Boling added that some dispensaries have not allowed True Grass Arkansas petitioners to collect signatures on their properties. She also said some people have refused to back the movement financially because they were too heavily invested in the medical marijuana field. 

Despite the fact there are five separate recreational marijuana ballots, the signatures collected cannot be combined into one large initiative. If more than one proposal were to appear on the ballot, the one with the most votes would become law. 

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