State House 39
1. Abortion: Arkansas’ current law that prohibits abortion except to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency.
2. Abortion: Establishing a permanent funding stream to provide state-funded grants to charities that provide women with alternatives to abortion.
3. Education: The Arkansas LEARNS Act Educational Freedom Accounts that lets families use public dollars to pay for an education at a private school or homeschool.
4. Drugs: Legalizing recreational marijuana in Arkansas.
Wayne Long (Republican)
Undecided
I have never used marijuana and have no intention of doing so.
However, the U.S. Constitution does not grant the federal government any enumerated power to prohibit the purely intrastate, non-commercial, adult use of marijuana. The current federal prohibition therefore exceeds the scope of Congress’s delegated authority under the Constitution (particularly after the narrow reading of the Commerce Clause in recent decades).
Just as nationwide alcohol prohibition required the explicit grant of new federal power through the 18th Amendment in 1919 (later repealed by the 21st Amendment), a legitimate nationwide ban on adult marijuana use would require a constitutional amendment.
Until such an amendment is ratified, federal laws criminalizing the private, non-commercial adult use of marijuana within a state are, in principle, unconstitutional.
Upholding the Constitution requires consistent application, not selective enforcement based on personal preference. We cannot disregard its principles simply because we dislike a particular outcome. The powers or precedents we justify today for what we consider "good" may be wielded tomorrow by others for purposes we consider evil.
I have never used marijuana and have no intention of doing so.
However, the U.S. Constitution does not grant the federal government any enumerated power to prohibit the purely intrastate, non-commercial, adult use of marijuana. The current federal prohibition therefore exceeds the scope of Congress’s delegated authority under the Constitution (particularly after the narrow reading of the Commerce Clause in recent decades).
Just as nationwide alcohol prohibition required the explicit grant of new federal power through the 18th Amendment in 1919 (later repealed by the 21st Amendment), a legitimate nationwide ban on adult marijuana use would require a constitutional amendment.
Until such an amendment is ratified, federal laws criminalizing the private, non-commercial adult use of marijuana within a state are, in principle, unconstitutional.
Upholding the Constitution requires consistent application, not selective enforcement based on personal preference. We cannot disregard its principles simply because we dislike a particular outcome. The powers or precedents we justify today for what we consider "good" may be wielded tomorrow by others for purposes we consider evil.
5. Tech: Requiring major social media websites to verify all users’ ages in order to protect children on their platforms.
6. Gambling: Letting casinos in Arkansas conduct gambling online.
7. Elections: Current ballot initiative efforts to change the Arkansas Constitution to make it easier for private individuals or entities to place measures on the ballot for a statewide vote.
Wayne Long (Republican)
Oppose
If this passes, it will make it easier to get un-Biblical amendments into our constitution.
If this passes, it will make it easier to get un-Biblical amendments into our constitution.
Cody Smith (Republican)
Oppose
I believe that changing our Arkansas Constitution should be a delicate process, much like changing the US Constitution. Abortion rights activists want to enshrine abortion into our Arkansas Constitution, and I oppose that.
I believe that changing our Arkansas Constitution should be a delicate process, much like changing the US Constitution. Abortion rights activists want to enshrine abortion into our Arkansas Constitution, and I oppose that.
8. Guns: Confiscation of firearms from citizens that the government deem a danger to themselves or others, otherwise known as red flag laws.
9. Marriage: The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalized same-sex marriage.