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Medical marijuana will likely resurface in Ark.


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Updated: 11/07/2012 2:15 pm Published: 11/07/2012 2:14 pm

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — After Arkansas almost became the first southern state to legalize medical marijuana this week, supporters say they plan to tweak their proposal and try again.

Voters in Tuesday's election narrowly rejected the measure that would have allowed patients with certain qualifying conditions to use marijuana with a doctor's recommendation.

Chris Kell is a campaign strategist for Arkansans for Compassionate Care, the group advocating for the marijuana measure.

Kell says the proposal garnered more support than many people expected.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting unofficial returns Wednesday, 51.4 percent of voters opposed the marijuana issue.

Kell says the group plans to try again and may need to do away with a provision that would allow patients to grow marijuana if they live more than five miles from a dispensary.

 

©2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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ArkansasYankee - 11/9/2012 1:04 PM
1 Vote
D4DAV; I use the VA for all my medical. 80% NSC. My PCP doesn't drug test me. I've told her I used to smoke, but don't anymore, ( which I don't ), so no testing. And I didn't worry about the legal implications when I did smoke; never got busted for it in 25 years of smoking the "evil weed". I'd say go ahead and try it; if it works, go with it. Don't know your particular situation, and don't know why the VA drug tests some, and not others; but if you can get around the testing part, like I said, go ahead and try it; it is probably better for you than all those legal drugs the Feds push.

D4DAV - 11/9/2012 12:59 AM
1 Vote
Arkansas NeoCons are Absolute HIPPOCRATES! I voted Rebublican across the board in District 4! You NeoCons refused to allow Obama to dictate your healthcare.....Yet you have no problem dictating mine! I wore the uniform of this Great Country and for doing so I am 100% Total and Permanently Service Connected Disabled. I have no idea if Medical Marijuana will help my pain, I have no legal Avenue to find out, and too much to lose by doing so illegally. I can tell you that the Hand-full of pills I take daily and another hand-full to help the side effect from the first are not good for me, you, or anyone else. YOU PAY FOR THEM! I did not ask you to pay for Medical Marijuana! I only asked you to give me the same OPTION TO CHOOSE that you want out of the next President. How dare you say your part of the Moral Majority! What's good for the goose isn't good for the Gander? Plain and simple The Neocons of Arkansas stand only for "their" Brand of Fascism and against the other side's Brand of Fascism, But Never for the People, Never for what is right. It's ok though I'll Continue to relieve my pain on your Dollars at 4 and 5 times the price. I only wanted the chance to choose on my own dime. Sincerely, Disillusioned, Disabled Veteran of the Country I can no longer Recognize.

dirkdigler - 11/8/2012 8:30 AM
0 Votes
Why should I pay a doctor for a prescription and a dispensary a higher price than a dealer? Legalize or don't legalize.

wallfisher - 11/7/2012 9:19 PM
1 Vote
Prescription drug ads on tv clearly state a patient should consult with their physician to determine if a drug may be right for them. Considering the number of class action lawsuits due to the various health problems associated with consuming compound chemicals it's obvious to me those products are not the right choice for all the people. So, why is it so difficult to understand that marijuana isn't the wrong choice for all the people? I am ashamed of the closed minded people who don't respect others enough to accept or believe there are people who are responsible users of marijuana. We all know that there are people who abuse over the counter medications and prescription drugs. This should not be about whether it's right or wrong to consume marijuana. It should be about who should be responsible for what damages and deaths that result from the products we consume.

ArkansasYankee - 11/7/2012 8:22 PM
1 Vote
Atomic and Malcolm; This Christian voted for it. A true Christian would have voted the Word of God would they not? Read Genesis 1:11,12. Word of God guys! " And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed...and God saw that IT WAS good." Yes Malcolm, our main responsiblity is to spread the Gospel of Jesus; but I don't believe that's the sole purpose of the Holy Bible. There are other purposes - history lessons, laws to live by; given to us by God Himself, a repair manual for the soul, hope for the lost, the sick, the broken hearted. There are many purposes for, and uses of, the Holy Bible. Too bad so many so called Christians voted against this issue; the book of Genesis tells me God Himself put weed here for a purpose; and HE saw that it was good! When it comes to voting, Christians don't vote "Christian". Otherwise, they would not have voted for the party of abortion and gay marriage, and we'd have a new president come January.

Bonghitzu - 11/7/2012 6:07 PM
2 Votes
I do hope we all get another try on the Medical Marijuana issue. Just think, if all the persons who have lost there right to vote due to being charged with Marijuana and Marijuana related offences were able to vote, this issue 5 would've passed last night with flying colors. If the people who were too paranoid to vote for issue 5 were to had voted for it, once again it would've passed. As for changing the law in regards to being able to grow if you live more than 5 miles away from a despenceries, I really do not see where that would make that big of a differance. The problem here wil be for the doctors who recommend Medical Marijuana loosing there right to practice Medicine, just as the Arkansas Medical Board treats the Pain Management doctors. Just one mans opinion!

thescreamer - 11/7/2012 5:02 PM
1 Vote
@ Atmic Phart, I agree with you. These so-called Christians like Cox & his organization are such hypocrites of all times. They go to church on Sundays but after church they head to Hot Springs to bet on the horses and drink their alcohol oh, don't forget the casinos. I'm sure a few of them snort their coke. I'm hoping they will put ths on the ballot again in 2 years. I wll support it again since I know as a nurse that marijuana helps cancer patients.

Malcolm Red - 11/7/2012 4:46 PM
0 Votes
That being said, I will always witness, and I cannot force. I will love all, but I will not accept all.

Malcolm Red - 11/7/2012 4:45 PM
0 Votes
The main thing to understand about Christians is that we cannot keep our Bibles to ourselves. To spread the Gospel of Jesus is the single most important thing in life and is the sole purpose of it.

Atomic Phart - 11/7/2012 4:36 PM
3 Votes
If a woman can kill an unborn baby, then cancer patients should be able to use marijuana to help ease their pain and bring back their appetite. KEEP YOUR BIBLE OUT OF MY HEALTHCARE AND MY BODY!!!
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