A referendum to legalize recreational cannabis sales in Arkansas passed a critical milestone, likely assuring the proposed constitutional amendment will be on the state’s November ballot.
State election officials said the referendum proponent, Responsible Growth Arkansas, succeeded in submitting the required 89,151 valid signatures to qualify the initiative for the ballot, according to the Associated Press.
The only additional step is for the state Board of Election Commissioners to review the measure, including the proposal’s name and ballot title, the AP reported. That is expected to occur Aug. 3.
The referendum calls for recreational marijuana sales to begin March 8, 2023, with existing medical marijuana providers.
Are you a social equity cannabis license holder or applicant?
The MJBizCon team is now accepting 2023 Social Equity Scholarship Program applications.
The mission of this program is to provide social equity cannabis license holders or applicants access to the #1 global cannabis industry conference + tradeshow in Las Vegas.
Who can apply?
- Students currently enrolled in a cannabis-related program at an accredited university or college.
- Cannabis executives at licensed social equity cultivation, extraction/processing, retail, manufacturing/brand businesses (or awaiting application approval).
Don’t miss out on this potentially life-changing opportunity.
Apply to attend MJBizCon today – The application period will close on July 24!
State regulators would award 40 additional store licenses through a lottery by July 5, 2023, and 12 additional cultivation licenses by Nov. 8, 2023, according to the petition.
The measure calls for a 10% retail tax on recreational marijuana products, in addition to local and state sales taxes.