**Why it matters:**
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected a medical cannabis ballot measure due to issues with its title. The title of a ballot measure must be written in a specific manner and must accurately reflect the proposal’s contents. Griffin’s decision to reject the measure is not based on his support or opposition to it, but rather on the measure’s failure to meet the requirements for a ballot title.
**What they are saying:**
Griffin explained that a ballot title must contain all essential facts, be free from any misleading tendencies, and convey an intelligible idea of the proposed change in the law. He found issues with the formatting and ambiguous statements in the title of the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Amendment of 2024. He suggested specific changes to the wording to address these issues.
**The big picture:**
If the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Amendment of 2024 is passed, it would amend the constitution to expand the qualifying conditions for medical cannabis, allow out-of-state patients to purchase cannabis in Arkansas, remove fees for cannabis card applications, and permit possession of up to one ounce of cannabis if it is no longer classified as a controlled substance by the federal government.
**What to watch:**
The ballot measure authors will need to revise the wording of the measure to address the issues raised by Griffin. They have until July 5 to collect the required number of signatures in order to qualify for the ballot in November.
**My take:**
It is crucial for ballot measures to have accurate and clear titles that reflect their contents. While Griffin’s decision is not based on the merits of the proposed measure, it highlights the importance of ensuring that voters have a clear understanding of what they are voting on. Revising the wording of the ballot measure will be necessary to address the issues raised and gain approval.
