Arkansas doctors won't need to certify value of medical pot
The Arkansas Senate gave final approval to a bill that says doctors don't need to determine whether marijuana might be a better medicine for certain patients.
Updated: 6:24 AM CST Jan 25, 2017
Daniel Armbruster
News Anchor and Reporter
Image of a marijuana leaf superimposed on the Arkansas state flag
Doctors prescribing medical marijuana won't have to tell Arkansas regulators that the benefits of marijuana outweigh the risks for their patients. The Arkansas Senate gave final approval Monday to a bill that says doctors don't need to determine whether marijuana might be a better medicine for people with certain medical conditions. Gov. Asa Hutchinson later signed the bill. Much of Monday's debate centered on whether legislators sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution could make decisions running counter to federal law. While Arkansas voters have OK'd marijuana use by people with certain medical conditions, federal law says otherwise. Legislators previously said agencies had until May to set rules for the program. They had been due in March under a constitutional amendment voters approved in November. Hutchinson signed that bill, too. (Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) —
Doctors prescribing medical marijuana won't have to tell Arkansas regulators that the benefits of marijuana outweigh the risks for their patients.
The Arkansas Senate gave final approval Monday to a bill that says doctors don't need to determine whether marijuana might be a better medicine for people with certain medical conditions. Gov. Asa Hutchinson later signed the bill.
Much of Monday's debate centered on whether legislators sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution could make decisions running counter to federal law. While Arkansas voters have OK'd marijuana use by people with certain medical conditions, federal law says otherwise.
Legislators previously said agencies had until May to set rules for the program. They had been due in March under a constitutional amendment voters approved in November. Hutchinson signed that bill, too.
Medical marijuana law could allow cultivation facilities near neighborhoods
(Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)