(AP) – The Arkansas Senate has rejected a proposal to ban
smoking medical marijuana in the state. Senators voted 15-10 on Monday against Senate Bill 357 co-sponsored by Republican Senator Jason Rapert. Local Senators Missy Irvin and Linda Collins-Smith voted in favor of the measure. Senator Scott Flippo did not vote.
Rapert says smoking marijuana is harmful to public health and
that Arkansas has spent millions of dollars to discourage people from smoking
tobacco. He says he's seen no evidence of a medicinal value to smoking marijuana
and that the smoking of pot is a recreational use.
Republican Senator Jeremy Hutchinson argued against the bill, saying that
approving it would go against the will of the people, who approved the state's
medical marijuana law in November.
The Senate approved a motion to allow Rapert to bring the bill back for
another voter at a later date.
smoking medical marijuana in the state. Senators voted 15-10 on Monday against Senate Bill 357 co-sponsored by Republican Senator Jason Rapert. Local Senators Missy Irvin and Linda Collins-Smith voted in favor of the measure. Senator Scott Flippo did not vote.
Rapert says smoking marijuana is harmful to public health and
that Arkansas has spent millions of dollars to discourage people from smoking
tobacco. He says he's seen no evidence of a medicinal value to smoking marijuana
and that the smoking of pot is a recreational use.
Republican Senator Jeremy Hutchinson argued against the bill, saying that
approving it would go against the will of the people, who approved the state's
medical marijuana law in November.
The Senate approved a motion to allow Rapert to bring the bill back for
another voter at a later date.
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