Our View

Our View

Politics and Pot

For the second time in four years, legalization of medical marijuana is on the Arkansas ballot, and by the looks of things there will be two competing constitutional amendments to choose from.

While there’s been considerable media coverage on the controversial issue as well as scores of opinions, just exactly how do the politicians think and how about the positions of their political parties?

We would suspect that most concerned registered voters have made up their minds as how to vote on these two amendments this November but we’re sure they would also like to know how their elected representatives feel about whether or not it is time to embrace the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes.

We already pointed out there is a lot at stake in this issue and a considerable amount of money has been invested by individuals and organizations with specific intentions of getting a piece of the action.

We’re talking about making a considerable amount of money for those in this lucrative business and there are those biting at the bit to be among those authorized to cultivate and distribute the final product.

Now then, let’s get back to the politics of all this.

We are just now seeing this becoming a serious subject of disagreement between the state’s major political parties as well as the candidates in a major state election.

It should not come as any major surprise to learn that recently the state Democratic Party has approved language in its platform supporting legal access to medical marijuana. Let us point out that this is a political position the Democratic Party has never included before.

Then, on the other side of the political spectrum, we have the Republican Party that has a platform stating, “We oppose decriminalization of dangerous drugs including marijuana.”

It also must be pointed out that Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, came out the other day saying, “There are a number of problems in the two marijuana proposals on the ballot and I oppose both initiatives.”

The topic also has become an issue in Arkansas’ U.S. Senate race where Democratic candidate Conner Eldridge of Fayetteville, skirted the issue when questioned by the media. But, Libertarian Senate candidate Frank Gilbert of Tull says he supports legalizing marijuana for recreational as well as medical use.

Anyone who has been around for any length of time knows this isn’t the first time this issue has been presented to voters. A proposal to legalize medical marijuana in the state was narrowly defeated by voters in 2012, with 49 percent voting for it and 51 percent against.

Proponents claim the attitudes on the topic have changed since then and they are confident one or the other, maybe both will pass this go around.

That is if they appear on this year’s election ballot.

Two lawsuits have been filed challenging the initiated act.

And then there is the Arkansas Farm Bureau and the State Chamber of Commerce opposing the initiatives, joining forces with Gov. Hutchinson and several other influential people.

It is our opinion that Arkansas has enough problems without creating more with the passage of either of these two initiatives if they happen to appear on the upcoming ballot.