Arkansas MedMJ Init Campaign Hands in Signatures, FL Poll Has Good Tidings for Legalization Init, More... (7/5/24)

North Carolina becomes the latest state to ban "gas station heroin," German conservatives vow to undo marijuana legalization if returned to power, and more.

Marijuana Policy

Tianeptine AKA gas station heroin--now banned in North Carolina. (FDA)

The initiative takes the form of a constitutional amendment, which requires a 60 percent majority to pass. That means that while the initiative is leading, the lead is not especially comfortable. Initiative campaigns typically want to be up at least 10 points in the months before Election Day to account for any slippage due to late opposition campaigns.

To that end, the campaign has just released a pair of radio ads to build support.

Other recent polls have been a mixed bag. An April poll had support at 56 percent among registered voters, but another April poll had support at only 47 percent. A May poll had support at 58 percent, and a June poll had support at 66 percent.

Medical Marijuana

Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment Campaign Hands in Signatures. Arkansans for Patient Access (APA), the group behind the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Amendment, has handed in 114,402 raw signatures to state officials. The campaign needs 90,704 valid voter signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

Voters in the state approved medical marijuana in 2016, but patients, especially those in rural areas, have complained about lack of access to their medicine. This initiative would ease access by allowing health practitioners -- not just doctors -- to recommend medical marijuana and by allowing recommendations via telemedicine.

"Our canvassers found voters eager to place an amendment on the ballot that will eliminate barriers to access and make it less expensive to acquire and keep a medical marijuana card," said Bill Paschall, APA campaign committee member. "As we move into the fall, we look forward to educating Arkansans all across the state about this amendment and the medicinal benefits of marijuana," Paschall said.

If passed, the amendment would also allow patients to grow their own plants at home and eliminate annual patient card renewals and fees.

Drug Policy

North Carolina House Approves "Gas Station Heroin" Ban. The House has unanimously passed a bill that would make the drug tianeptine, commonly referred to as "gas station heroin" because it is sold at gas stations and convenience stores, a controlled substance under the state's drug laws, House Bill 903.

Tianeptine is an antidepressant that is sold with a prescription in most European countries but is not scheduled in the US.

The FDA first began warning about the drug in 2018. It has been linked to overdose deaths as well as symptoms including a loss of consciousness, seizures, and other serious health problems.

"I first learned about the dangers of tianeptine from families in my district whose kids have become addicted to it," bill sponsor Rep. Erin Paré (R) said in a statement following the bill's passage. "This is an important bill to protect our kids from accessing this dangerous substance."

At least eight other states have moved to ban the drug.

While the House passed the bill unanimously, the Senate took no action on it during the short session that just finished. But it did pass House Bill 250, which contained similar ban provisions and has now been signed into law.

International

German Conservatives Vow to Revoke Marijuana Legalization If They Gain Power. The country's conservative opposition will rescind the freshly passed marijuana legalization law if it gains power in forthcoming elections, a senior spokesman said.

"In our view, drugs policy, particularly with respect to protecting young people, is an issue of such central significance that we will revoke the legalization of cannabis in the event we take power," said conservative parliamentarian Thorsten Frei. "In any possible coalition talks, [the rolling back of the legislation] will be a firm standpoint for us," added Frei, the parliamentary leader of the alliance of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU).

Legalization German-style allows for the possession in public of up to 25 grams for personal use and the possession of up to 50 grams at home. People can also grow up to three plants at home. There is no provision for a legal marijuana market, but people can also join co-ops to share in marijuana produced there.