Marijuana vote needs ‘prudential decision’

One medical cannabis measure remains on Arkansas ballot

Published: November 3, 2016

The Arkansas constitutional amendment on medical marijuana before voters Nov. 8 needs a ‘prudential decision” from voters, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor said.

Issue 6, the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment Act, will allow patients with certain medical conditions to buy the drug if it is prescribed by a physician. A similar referendum, known as Issue 7, had a wider range of medical conditions allowed and would allow patients to grow their own plants if they didn’t live near a dispensary, but it was removed from the ballot Oct. 27 after the Arkansas Supreme Court disqualified a significant number of signatures.

The Diocese of Little Rock has remained neutral on Issue 6.

In his Oct. 16 homily, Bishop Taylor said, “I would add a note about medical marijuana, about which people have reason to fear a slippery slope to the disaster of recreational marijuana. From a theological standpoint, the Church has no moral objection to the medical use of marijuana, just like any other drug when used for a genuine medical purpose. Even so, it will be very important — and difficult — to put safeguards in place sufficient to prevent it from falling into non-medical hands — especially the youth whose brains are still developing. Hence, the voters have a prudential decision to make.”

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the use of drugs except for therapeutic reasons is a “grave offense.”

If approved, Issue 6 will allow patients with 17 qualifying conditions, such as cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) to buy cannabis through dispensaries. The Medical Marijuana Commission would be created and tax revenue from the sale of the drug would go to vocational schools, workforce training, technical institutes and the General Fund. In local communities, voters can ban the establishment of these dispensaries or cultivation facilities.

Half the states and the District of Columbia have legalized the drug for medical use. Cannabis oil is legal in 15 more states. Arkansas voters rejected a similar law in 2012. Medical marijuana votes are also before the people of Florida, Montana and North Dakota.