Family Council President Jerry Cox is no fan of the Marijuana Legalization Initiative slated to be on the ballot in November. | familycouncil.org
Family Council President Jerry Cox is no fan of the Marijuana Legalization Initiative slated to be on the ballot in November. | familycouncil.org
Family Council President Jerry Cox is imploring voters to think long and hard before pulling the lever in favor of the Arkansas Adult Use Cannabis Amendment.
“Marijuana attracts criminals. Legalizing it won’t change that. Crime in Arkansas is higher than ever, and having marijuana farms and stores all over the state will attract criminals from everywhere and make every community more dangerous,” Cox said.
The Arkansas Adult Use Cannabis Amendment is an initiative set to be on the state's election ballot on Nov. 8. According to Ballotpedia, the measure would legalize recreational marijuana use for individuals 21 years of age and older and authorize the commercial sale of marijuana with sales to be taxed at 10%. As a constitutional amendment, if passed, the measure could not be changed by any elected official.
According to World Population Review, Arkansas currently has the fifth-highest crime rate among U.S. states. As of 2022, Arkansas' crime rate sits at 5,898.75 per 100,000 people. At a rate of 671.93 per 100,000, the state currently ranks fourth-highest in the nation for violent crimes.
California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, starting a trend that led to the widespread legalization of both medical and recreational marijuana across the U.S. Recreational marijuana is currently legal in 19 states and the District of Columbia, according to MJBizDaily.
While recreational marijuana is legal in California, illegal cultivation has also become increasingly popular in the state. The explosive growth of non-authorized cannabis farms has brought a surge in heavy-duty weapons, violence, lethal chemicals and environmental wreckage, the Los Angeles Times reports.
According to the Los Angeles Times, unlicensed dispensaries in California have become "hotbeds of crime" and stand as a "stark illustration" of how marijuana legalization in the state has gone terribly wrong. Although these black market dispensaries offer cheaper marijuana products than legal retailers, most are untested and unregulated.
Cox is president of Arkansas' Family Council, which he founded in 1989 with the intent of serving the people of Arkansas by promoting, protecting and strengthening traditional family values. He is also the founder of the Education Alliance, the Arkansas Physician’s Resource Council and the Arkansas Justice Institute.
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