Casinos and marijuana Rx issues on ballot

This is a continuation of the discussion of the seven ballot questions being asked of Arkansas voters on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot in our state.

Last week, Issues 1 through 4 were discussed.

On Thursday, the Arkansas Supreme Court struck Issue No. 4, the medical-injury lawsuit law, from the ballot.

The high court also ruled that the ballot title for Issue No. 6, the Medical Marijuana Amendment allows voters to make an informed decision. The ruling keeps the issue on the ballot.

Issue No. 7, the Medical Cannabis Act, remains on the ballot at this time. The state's highest court approved the act's ballot summary in a ruling on Sept. 22, but a lawsuit alleging problems with the number of valid signatures has yet to be resolved.

This week, the ballot issues, numbered as they appear on the ballot are:

• Issue No. 5: Authorizing three casinos to operate in Arkansas.

• Issue No. 6: Medical Marijuana Amendment

• Issue No. 7: Medical Cannabis Act.

While there has been significant advertising both on television, radio and in direct mail, Issue No. 5 is still in court and may be taken off the ballot after the writing of this column.

Most of the information for this article, regarding ballot titles and what each issue means, comes from a non-partisan, unbiased research-based guide to the 2016 Arkansas ballot issues from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extension Public Policy Center publication, available at area County Extension Offices -- free of charge. The 50-page booklet is indeed great reading on what is on/in these issues on the ballot.

Issue No. 5

This issue was struck from the ballot on Thursday by the Arkansas Supreme Court. The court ruled that the ballot title did not inform Arkansas voters that the measure would violate a federal law prohibiting sports gambling in the state.

"An Amendment to allow three casinos to operate in Arkansas, one each in the following counties: Boone County, operated by Arkansas Gaming and Resorts LLC; Miller County, operated by Miller County Gaming LLC, and Washington County, operated by Washington County Gaming LLC."

The wording would allow the establishment of the three casinos. It also defines casino gaming and gaming as dealing, operating, carrying on, conducting, maintaining or exposing for play any game played with cards, dice, equipment or any mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic device or machine for money, property, checks, credit or any representative value, as well as accepting wagers on sporting events or other events, including without limiting the generality of the foregoing any game, device, or type of wagering permitted at a casino operated within any one or more of the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee or Texas as of Nov. 8, 2016, or subsequently permitted thereafter; also creating the Arkansas Gaming Commission to regulate casinos in accord with the laws enacted by the General Assembly.

A vote FOR means voters are in favor of authorizing three casino gaming establishments, one each to be located in Boone, Miller and Washington Counties.

A vote AGAINST means voters are not in favor of authorizing these three casinos.

Note: If, for example, Washington County voters should reject this proposal at the county level, but it passes statewide, the casino would be built in Washington County.

Issue No. 6

"The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016."

A vote FOR means voters are in favor of changing the Arkansas Constitution to make medical use of marijuana legal under Arkansas law and establishing a system for the cultivation, acquisition and distribution of marijuana for medical purposes.

Votes AGAINST means voters are not in favor of changing the Arkansas Constitution to make medical use of marijuana legal.

Issue No. 6 is being challenged in court at the time this is being written.

Issue No. 7

"The Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act."

A vote FOR means voters are in favor of making the medical use of marijuana legal under Arkansas law and establishes a system for the cultivation, acquisition and distribution of marijuana for medical purposes.

A vote AGAINST means you are not in favor of making the medical use of marijuana legal under Arkansas law.

Note: Issue No 7 is an act and does not change the Arkansas Constitution.

Issue No. 7 is also being challenged in court at the time of this writing.

Another item to remember is that these are considered competing issues on the ballot.

Should they both be approved, the issue that gains the most FOR votes will be declared the winner and the other issue discarded until a court, perhaps the Arkansas Supreme Court, rules otherwise.

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Maylon Rice is a former journalist who worked for several northwest Arkansas publications. He can be reached via email at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.

Editorial on 10/19/2016