Arkansas Fraternal Order of Police Announce Unanimous Opposition to Marijuana Issue 6

Proposed Marijuana Amendment Places Financial Gain Ahead of Public Safety

Kevin “Bart” Simpson, State President,Arkansas Fraternal Order of Police: The Arkansas Fraternal Order of Police (ARFOP) joins the growing list of other groups and associations in urging all Arkansans to vote against marijuana related Issue 6. Recently the ARFOP board voted unanimously to OPPOSE the legalization of marijuana being proposed here in Issue 6.

It is often mentioned by proponents that law enforcement is simply against marijuana legalization because it will lead to a loss of revenue to their organizations. The fact is, the ARFOP and other first responders oppose it, because they are often the first ones to see the negative side effects that marijuana legalization has on communities and youth. We at the ARFOP have yet to meet a law enforcement leader from a state where marijuana use has been legalized who says quality of life has improved. In fact, just the opposite is true; crime rates trend higher, skyrocketing amounts of people and children being sent to the ER for consuming marijuana edibles, and vehicle crashes and fatality rates increase.

The ARFOP believes the proposal is nothing more than a very thinly disguised attempt to legalize marijuana under the cloak of medicine. We sympathize with those that have debilitating diseases, but we also want people to understand that no matter where they stand on this issue they may want to consider that this proposal was written by the big marijuana industry for the marijuana industry’s benefit. The marijuana industry does not have our communities and youth’s best interests in mind and are only worried about making more money at the expense of our most vulnerable. We feel that is a price too steep to pay.

Issue 6 does not truly allow jurisdictions to keep marijuana from flooding their communities. Issue 6 requires that marijuana dispensaries be allowed to operate wherever a pharmacy is allowed to conduct business, even next to an ice cream store where you take your family.

We ask that all Arkansans join us in taking a stand against the big marijuana industry and VOTE NO on Issue 6 and help us keep your family safe.

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