MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACTIVISTS KICK OFF SIGNATURE DRIVE

Determined to demonstrate the power of grass-roots democracy, local
medical marijuana activists officially began their campaign to collect
about 70,000 signatures required to put the issue before Arkansas
voters in November’s general election.

During their first signature collection rally held Saturday at the
Fayetteville Public Library, observers say a near-capacity crowd
filled the meeting room to listen as leaders from the Alliance for
Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas detailed the ballot initiative.

According to ARDPArk’s president, Denele Campbell, the proposed
initiative is patterned on the success of a similar law approved in
1998 by Oregon voters, which allows physicians to recommend the use of
marijuana for patients with “debilitating medical conditions.”

Such conditions, according to the proposal, include cancer, glaucoma,
HIV or AIDS among others, or any other serious or chronic physical or
mental condition recognized by the physician for which marijuana could
potentially help.

Oversight for the proposed law would be conducted by the Arkansas
Department of Health, which would issue patients an identification
card to be used as proof the person was exempt from prosecution under
the state’s drug laws, including statutes against possessing and
growing marijuana.

During Saturday’s meeting, petitions were distributed, and the group
viewed a video which included personal testimony from chronically ill
people who had benefitted from using marijuana. Afterwards, the crowd
was addressed by Fayetteville Alderman Kyle Russell, who believes
strongly in protecting the rights of citizens to receive any
medications which could improve their condition.

“I’ve never used marijuana in my whole life,” Russell said, “but I may
be sick someday, and I don’t want the government standing in my way if
I need it. It’s a social justice issue.”

While Campbell acknowledges ARDPArk faces an uphill battle against
public misconceptions about marijuana, she remains hopeful the group
can muster nearly 70,000 signatures necessary from at least 15
counties statewide to place the measure on the ballot in November.

“We’ve got a lot of hard work ahead,” Campbell said, “but people are
motivated and already somewhat informed on the issue.”

Further, she added, there is a tremendous amount of support in
Northwest Arkansas for the initiative, with both local leaders and
concerned citizens becoming increasingly involved in the effort.

However, the proposal has received opposition from local residents and
politicians, including 3rd District Congressman and former U.S.
Attorney Asa Hutchinson, and one-time state senatorial candidate Anne
Britton.

Seven states have already passed similar initiatives, including
Alaska, Arizona, California, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Washington as well
as the District of Columbia, and Campbell claimed there are other
states contemplating their own medical marijuana initiative efforts.

In Arkansas alone, three separate ballot initiative titles were
approved by the attorney general in December, all proposed by
different drug policy reform organizations.

The next meeting will be held at noon Saturday, Jan. 29 in the
Fayetteville Public Library’s meeting room, where Campbell plans to
provide a notary to make petition signatures official.

“This is truly an instance where the people are ahead of the
politicians,” Campbell concluded.

Staff Writer Matt Wagner contributed to this report.