Several bills filed in both the Arkansas House and Senate this week have aim at placing restrictions on the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment approved by the majority of Arkansas voters in November of 2016. House Bill 1391 would change a provision of zoning regulations for a marijuana dispensary or cultivation facility. House Bill 1392 would ban the use of medical marijuana in food and drink under most conditions. House Bill 1400 would prohibit the smoking of marijuana in any location in Arkansas, and Senate Bill 254 would prohibit dispensaries from growing the plant.
House Bill 1391, sponsored by District 87's State Representative Robin Lundstrum and co-sponsored locally by Representatives Jack Fortner, John Payton and Nelda Speaks would strike out zoning regulation provisions which make regulations for dispensaries or cultivation facilities the same as those for a licensed retail pharmacy.
It would also allow a city, incorporated town or county to regulate or prohibit a marijuana facility's operation by a majority vote of a city council or quorum court instead of by a citizen vote.
House Bill 1392, also primarily sponsored by Representative Lundstrum, and District Six's Gary Stubblefield, would ban the use of medical marijuana in food and drink unless a qualified patient or designated caregiver incorporates it in food or drink to aid in it's ingestion. Local State Representative Jack Fortner is a co-sponsor of the bill.
House Bill 1392 would also make it illegal to be under the influence of marijuana when doing so would constitute negligence or professional malpractice. It would be illegal to possess, smoke or engage in marijuana use on a school bus, on any school grounds, including day care centers, at drug or alcohol treatment facilities, community or recreation centers, correctional facilities or any form of public transportation or public place. Operating any vehicle other than one propelled by muscle power, while under the influence of marijuana would be prohibited as well.
House Bill 1400 is another bill filed by Representative Lundstrum and District 35 Representative Jason Rapert. It has the same provisions of House Bill 1392 and includes language to say it would be illegal to smoke marijuana in any location in Arkansas. State Representative John Payton is the only local co-sponser.
The proposal also says the amendment does not require a government medical assistance program or private health insurer to reimburse a person for costs associated with it's use, unless required by federal law and an employer does not have to accommodate the ingestion of medical marijuana in the workplace or an employee under the influence.
House Bills 1391, 1392 and 1400 are headed to the House Rules Committee at noon Wednesday.
In the Senate, District 16's Greg Standridge and local Senator Missy Irvin have sponsored Senate Bill 254 which would completely strike the ability of a dispensary to grow or possess up to 50 marijuana plants proposed under the original amendment. The bill is also scheduled to be presented, at noon Wednesday, to the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.
House Bill 1391, sponsored by District 87's State Representative Robin Lundstrum and co-sponsored locally by Representatives Jack Fortner, John Payton and Nelda Speaks would strike out zoning regulation provisions which make regulations for dispensaries or cultivation facilities the same as those for a licensed retail pharmacy.
It would also allow a city, incorporated town or county to regulate or prohibit a marijuana facility's operation by a majority vote of a city council or quorum court instead of by a citizen vote.
House Bill 1392, also primarily sponsored by Representative Lundstrum, and District Six's Gary Stubblefield, would ban the use of medical marijuana in food and drink unless a qualified patient or designated caregiver incorporates it in food or drink to aid in it's ingestion. Local State Representative Jack Fortner is a co-sponsor of the bill.
House Bill 1392 would also make it illegal to be under the influence of marijuana when doing so would constitute negligence or professional malpractice. It would be illegal to possess, smoke or engage in marijuana use on a school bus, on any school grounds, including day care centers, at drug or alcohol treatment facilities, community or recreation centers, correctional facilities or any form of public transportation or public place. Operating any vehicle other than one propelled by muscle power, while under the influence of marijuana would be prohibited as well.
House Bill 1400 is another bill filed by Representative Lundstrum and District 35 Representative Jason Rapert. It has the same provisions of House Bill 1392 and includes language to say it would be illegal to smoke marijuana in any location in Arkansas. State Representative John Payton is the only local co-sponser.
The proposal also says the amendment does not require a government medical assistance program or private health insurer to reimburse a person for costs associated with it's use, unless required by federal law and an employer does not have to accommodate the ingestion of medical marijuana in the workplace or an employee under the influence.
House Bills 1391, 1392 and 1400 are headed to the House Rules Committee at noon Wednesday.
In the Senate, District 16's Greg Standridge and local Senator Missy Irvin have sponsored Senate Bill 254 which would completely strike the ability of a dispensary to grow or possess up to 50 marijuana plants proposed under the original amendment. The bill is also scheduled to be presented, at noon Wednesday, to the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.
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