For the second time, the Arkansas Senate on Monday rejected a bill to ban smoking marijuana in all locations in the state.
Sen. Bill 357 by Rep. Jason Rapert, R-Bigelow, received 11 votes in support and 15 against. It fared only slightly better than it did on March 6, when it received 10 votes in support and 15 against.
Arkansas voters approved a constitutional amendment in November to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana by people with certain health conditions. Rapert told senators that if the purpose of the amendment is to promote health, then smoking marijuana should not be allowed because smoking is unhealthy and because children could be exposed to second-hand marijuana smoke.
