Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and some of the state's top doctors are criticizing efforts to legalize medical marijuana, accusing backers of two ballot measures of misleading voters about the benefits of the drug.
Hutchinson on Monday said legalizing medical marijuana through the ballot box is not good medical practice and circumvents the federal process in place for studying and regulating drugs. Two competing medical marijuana proposals are on the November ballot.
Hutchinson was joined by doctors representing several organizations and hospitals, including the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Arkansas Hospital Association. Hutchinson is a Republican who headed the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
Arkansas voters narrowly rejected legalizing medical marijuana four years ago.
