Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — The state attorney general today rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize marijuana for medical use.

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel cited numerous problems with the proposal submitted by Little Rock attorney John Wesley Hall, Jr., including that federal law would supersede a state drug amendment.

“I note as an initial matter that this description fails to acknowledge that your proposed measure cannot completely legalize marijuana in Arkansas for medical purposes because the drug remains illegal under federal law,” the opinion said.

The attorney general must certify the proposed name and title of a ballot initiative before supporters can begin collecting signatures to place it before voters in the November general election.

If certified, supporters would need at least 77,468 signatures by July 2 to qualify for the ballot.

Supporters of similar ballot measures have failed in previous attempts to qualify their proposals for the ballot, and in 2004 a proposal by the Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas had its proposal certified but was unable to gather enough signatures.