An official opinion from Attorney General Leslie Rutledge touches lightly on the many ways in which the medical marijuana amendment creates new legal concerns.

The question:

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Whether, pursuant to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016, commission members may be reimbursed by the State for travel and related expenses to tour an out-of- state marijuana cultivation facility. 

The summary of the answer:

In my opinion, Amendment 98 does not prevent the State from providing for the travel envisioned by your question as long as the travel is arranged and paid for without violating Amendment 98’s clear prohibition against Commission members receiving “expense reimbursement.” You have provided no information concerning how such travel expenses would be provided by the State. As a result, fact questions could arise in this regard, precluding a definitive answer in the limited context of an Attorney General opinion.

Does this mean that the state could buy all necessary tickets, rooms, meals and other costs so long as a commission member didn’t charge the costs and then seek reimbursement?

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It’s one of many questions awaiting answers in the days ahead for the brave new, high-dollar world of medical marijuana.