The secretary of state’s office cleared petitions for a marijuana legalization amendment last night but said today that counting is still underway on the proposal by Fair Play Arkansas for an amendment to prevent opening of a casino in Pope County.

The amendment needs 89,151 signatures of registered voters and backers of the amendment, financed by the Choctaw Nation to protect its casino near Fort Smith, turned in only about 100,000. They have continued gathering signatures. They must have 75 percent of the threshold certified as registered voters on the original petitions to be able to add more in a so-called “cure” process.

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Amendments also must be approved as to ballot title and name by the state Board of Election Commissioners, which has both the marijuana and anti-casino amendments on its agenda at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Capitol. The casino amendment ballot title is being hotly contested by the Cherokee Nation business, which already holds a permit in Pope County.

 

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