The Arkansas Supreme Court today denied a request to rehear its decision invalidating Issue 7, the medical marijuana initiated act.

As is customary, the denial came in a brief per curiam order without elaboration. Chief Justice Howard Brill and Justice Paul Danielson, who dissented from the earlier ruling, would have granted a rehearing.

Advertisement

This mean votes on Issue 7 definitely will not be counted. A federal judge considering another suit is being asked to give early voters another chance to vote because voters for 7, thinking it was still on the ballot might have voted against Issue 6, a marijuana amendment. So that complication remains.

Federal Judge James Moody Jr. is considering the separate lawsuit seeking injunctive relief in the form, first, of better notice at polling places in Arkansas that, as it stands, votes for Issue 7 won’t count. This lawsuit is a bid to push backers of medical marijuana to vote favorably on Issue 6, the medical marijuana amendment, which remains on the ballot. The suit also asks for a revote for the more than 100,000 voters who voted before the Supreme Court struck Issue 7. Due process rights were violated by voters being given a ballot with competing issues, one of which would later be disqualified, the suit argues.

Advertisement

Also today:

Arkansans for Compassionate Care, the group backing Issue 7, will hold a silent protest in front of the Governor’s Mansion from 5 to 9 p.m. “We will be silent in person as they have made us in the voting booth,” said a note from organizers.

The group has urged voters to back Issue 6 if it is the only issue remaining on the ballot.

Advertisement

Be a Part of the Fight

Step up and make a difference by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, the progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock that's been fighting for truth for 50 years. Our tough, determined, and feisty journalism has earned us over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, all of whom value our commitment to holding the powerful accountable. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Join us in the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article Watch why you should Vote for issue 6! Next article Five shot Wednesday night on Bragg Street