House Rules

Please recognize yourself for the. Occurred and then you may begin. Thank you madam chair may I bring my witnesses to the table yes ma'am. Please introduce yourself for the record. Good morning or afternoon my name's lily Peterson I'm the managing director for the Arkansas cinema society. Madam chair I have an amendment first yes ma'am. Please you can. The Amendment is on page three it deletes line thirty two and substitute for financial incentive agreement signed on or after the effective date of this act this is just to make it clear that that's not to dealing with projects that are currently under contract. Are there any questions about. I have a motion for. Adoption all in favor say aye. Any against nay congratulations your amendment has passed now you may present the bill as amended thank you madam chair those of you who were here last session probably recall that we had a a bill helping to establish the film industry in the State of Arkansas that was in the twenty twenty one session this bill seeks to build on that and make us more competitive with the states around us we know that is going to be hard to compete with states like Georgia but we want to at least compete with Oklahoma so what this bill seeks to do is to capitalize on the growing success of the film industry in Arkansas with an emphasis on promoting projects in economically distressed area of the state and multi series productions which would bring in much more revenue to the state what the bill does is races the tax the base tax incentive for qualified production cost from twenty percent to twenty five percent making Arkansas more in line with similar states who have demonstrated success in promoting the film industry their economic development incentives specifically Oklahoma house bill fifty ninety two also establishes an additional five percent tax credit incentive for hiring employees are making qualified expenditures within a tier three or tier for economically distressed county as has been established by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission lastly this bill allows for an additional five percent tax credit incentive for multi project productions such as a television series like true detective that was found in Arkansas are a multi film project. At this amendment to the current film taxes and it is specific to identifying and cultivating cultivated future projects of a similar to that which is true detective. We had a correction in the information you may have received from Do you happen a they are now saying that this is revenue neutral. And I believe they will come and testify to that I believe this is important to remote and grow the Arkansas film industry in a conservative yet competitive fashion and I believe house bill fifty ninety two will be excellent for the state of Arkansas we have so many young people who are interested in going into the film industry not just in being in a production that in the film crew and the construction crew in the sound group and we want to grow that in Arkansas and keep our young people here you should have in the packet you received over twenty letters in support of this bill and telling of what it would do to our state and of course I think the best letters the one you receive from my daughter a list of it so be sure and read that and I'm going to ask my witness to speak thank you so much representive five thank you to the committee for having us here today the film industry job wages have an average salary of fifty three percent higher than the national average the power of this of screen production has been shown through numerous studies and is being investigated by a number of governments as part of a a COVID recovery post code recovery plan at this would particularly benefit our tier three and four counties in uplifting them and keeping people at home working at home with money from somewhere else which is great it without this bill we're leaving money on the table and giving it allowing our neighbor states to cash in on this really lucrative lucrative opportunity the representative Fite said Oklahoma is stealing away from us every day the academy award winning film minority that films in twenty twenty one and one in twenty twenty two it would if they were wanting to shoot here it's set here and they chose to shoot in Oklahoma because their incentive is just a little bit better this isn't about giving money to outside companies it's about providing our Kansans with lucrative good paying jobs here in our. I saw and keeping them here in Arkansas for the foreseeable future. Much of our board are made of well known filmmakers like Jeff Nichols merry Standridge and Jamie Lemmons haven't Hazen Graham Gordy and they would all love to shoot their films here in Arkansas they advocate actively to shoot in Arkansas but when the producers get the budget comes down to the bottom line is who has the best higher incentives and I better usually wins at twenty twenty one study from the New Mexico film economic impact of the film incentive in New Mexico showed that the R. O. Y. on their investment was eight point four so for every dollar invested into the program from the state economy benefited eight dollars and forty cents ninety two percent of productions in New Mexico in twenty twenty to twenty twenty one it stated that the incentive is the most important factor in which state issued an only eight percent of those productions would have shoot shot in the in New Mexico regardless. Of the significant direct indirect and induced economic benefits and impact New Mexico is an estimated one point three seven billion dollars in just two years so this bill is an effort to make Arkansas competitive with our neighbors and with comparable states to get our piece of that pie because I mean why not we deserve it thank you I do want to correct what I said I said revenue neutral what I meant is no fiscal impact. Are there any questions. Seeing no questions. Your miss lily right but that's only what I had to speak for the bill so I don't see anyone else signed up to speak for the bill or against the bill is there anyone here to speak for the bill against the bill are you close for your bill or would you like to close for your bill I'll close for my bill and I would appreciate a good vote. We have a motion do pass all in favor say aye opposed no congratulations your bill is passed thank you so much do pass as amended thank you madam chair thank you committee members. Next we have house bill sixteen oh five representative more. Please identify yourself for the record and then you may begin. Thank you madam chair my name is representative Jeremiah more districts sixty one and if you don't mind I've got a witness civil service and answer any legal welcome to join the table just make sure that you introduce yourself to the record. Good afternoon Alice the button. Good afternoon absent that is on you're welcome to president Bill so this bill sixteen oh five will regulate a product called delta eight delta eight is a product derived from him which was enshrined in twenty eighteen farm bill which legalized commercial growth of him in the country. For five years dealt a products have been sold in Arkansas with zero regulation this includes no age requirement for purchase. Zero testing to actually prove this product is safe and currently I would say the overwhelming majority of this dealt a products sold in Arkansas is technically if the legal due to there being zero testing. In Camden for instance the store had sixty thousand dollars worth of product the retailer thought was dealt eight but when tested at a crime lab it was actually marijuana. The current lack of regulation leaves business owners and the public at the risk of being taken advantage of. This bill does four things first it limits age of purchase to those twenty one years or older second it requires all products to be tested and state accredited labs to make sure it's a safe and legal. Where is there is no restriction on who can currently sell at this bill stipulates that only those who are licensed to sell tobacco council this product and fourth it bans the sale of the but or flowers. Of the product. There's a lot of talk about attending to ban this product but as stated previously it's and trying to twenty eighteen farm bill. Texas a prime example try to ban this product two years ago they lost in court and it's now currently regulated all during their court case there was an injunction product was totally unregulated for around a year leaving it on the shelves for anybody to purchase whether you're nine years old or twenty one years old. Kentucky is another example they tried to ban dealt a last year they lost in court and now they're in the process of regulating this product. Indiana has tried to ban the substance and during the court battle that ended up banning the sale of the budget and the flowers just like this bill does but the other products are now currently regulated and still available for purchase in fact if you're curious I can send you a link to a fake store in Indianapolis and once you can still buy delta eight products and have them shipped directly to your home. At the end of the day if I thought we could just ban dealt a bit totally different story. it's imperative that we make this product in accessible to children currently under the zero regulations that it's been for the past five years anybody in this room could set up shop in eliminate stand right outside your front door and sell the still to a product. This method is the most sure fire way to make sure that we remove this from the ability for kids to get this product. If you want to guarantee that this will not be sold to kids by retailers urge you to please vote yes you have any questions on second. Are there any questions. No questions. I'm so sorry. Representative Jane you're recognized. Thank you madam chair. Read more here a lot of things is there is there a companion bill in the Senate. That is coming our way having it wa I kind of like know what's going on and and how that Senate bill differs from your bill if there is a Senate bill of I just I just heard there will so could you can explain the difference and what's going on thank representative Jane there is not a companion bill per se there is a bill in the Senate that wants to ban dealt eight out right which if we can do that that's great. But as previously stated it's failed in these three states that have tried to payment and it's lost every time the only time it. The only example of which they to my knowledge were successful and banning it partially was Indiana which a band that the sale of the the flower itself which this bill does okay thank you. I don't see any other questions where you want to add something if if I get this it provides the context for why these bands are being challenged across the country and why I would ask the vote in favor of this. I'm sorry my name is absent is not again I am an attorney with all the Smith. it's Little Rock office and my client is service to the collapse. And that this I think a good entryway into the discussion of the stream of commerce that we're talking about here at one president trump signed the twenty eighteen farm bill it was intention is is comments were intentional this this is to help farmers it also reduced of the same around some of these other products or non psychotropic eccentric so the commercial features of hemp derived products we want to use the most concerned with farmers that's speaks to me I grew up in the northern man and my father was a a a a a a scientist for firms The point of it was to help farmers enter this market place they had previously been expected kept out of it and kept out of that's the first point in the stream of commerce there are downstream if downstream players from people who produce people who at manufacture or package or change and people who sell and and the broader strokes what Congress did in the farm bill I did three things in particular that number one you cannot estates change the definition of what hemp is hemp derived product that it gets relevant as far as this notion in the companion bill implement the non committee a bill in the Senate seeks to categorize this product as a synthetic substance which it is not federal. The second is that it it prohibits out right that federal law prohibits out right states from pre banning the shipment or transportation of any of these products through the state it is explicit in this there's no question of controversy as to whether or not I should have been on shipping and transportation would be lawful we know that that is not that Denver gets us into these questions of what to what degree are we supposed to regulate the farm bill says you can regulate the production and it again if I production is the growing of the crop but we can't prohibit regulate this shipment or transportation and so if that's the case you can go and purchase it from an Indiana store these products and have them delivered to Arkansas that is can the M. and our understanding and continue to to exist you can do that and state services Phobians also your some impartial been success. It's going to also implement implicate I think there's just there's a preemption argument for express preemption implied preemption circle conflict preemption that's on the on the civil regulatory side on the constitutional criminal side the Senate bill which was a speak to you would also in inhibit law enforcement's ability to Make Good decisions at traffic stops how can you really understand the chemical composition of a substance from people someone over we know that that person was pulled over can purchase in a state that allows these products our view is that the best way these products absolute need to be regulated the gas station people the stream of commerce to the gas station that needs to be eliminated this bill would do that this would put these products in the hands of responsible safe sellers are licensed regulated by the state and and that we would again encourage you to to vote in favor of the of this legislation and regulate the product help Arkansas farmers support the intent of president trump when he signed the farm bill and allow these dollars not foot Indiana but allow them to see here in Arkansas. Represents Tosh you're recognized for a question. Thank you madam chair I just wanna make sure I was listening to your testimony you're not saying that law enforcement supports this bill are you. You I mean I just wanna make sure that I. you should know about law enforcement I'm trying to make sure that you want implied that they supported just I don't know I have I will tell you I have no concept is that whether law enforcement support so it seems some do and some don't I I don't know. And I don't mean to speak for law enforcement I mean the practicality if federal law says you can't prohibit the transportation or shipment of the law of of the product and if I buy it in Indiana and then driving through Arkansan pulled over with it I don't think I can be criminally prosecuted under the statute that would be amended if the Senate bill were to pass I would encourage all of you to look closely at that Senate bill if you think if you're thinking about voting in favor of it that would be an out right ban does it doesn't make much sense to us. I was I will leave that comment one then it doesn't make it doesn't resolve the compliance use. Are there any other questions. Seeing other questions thank you we have a Mr Lee parkway is signed up to speak against the bill. You're recognized come to the table recognize your self and who you're with please. A family council. Thank you madam chair members and council strongly opposes house bill sixteen oh five and share briefly a few reasons. A first in his March ninth twenty twenty three public consumer alert on its website traditional Griffin stated the Delta age should be banned in Arkansas a yet HB sixteen oh five does the exact opposite how about you will hope transitional reform is listening but I think he and his team or one of the smartest most clever groups of legal minds in the field here in Arkansas and I can't imagine he wouldn't consider previous court challenges and the results of those cases regarding the other Senate bill that's been addressed the family council doesn't or so. H. B. sixteen oh five seems to be supported by people marijuana industry allows them to manufacture and sell all sorts of derivatives from the implant. I cleaned up to eight in any other drug that can manufacture from the complaint to us it seems around about way to legalize a former recreational marijuana. Next H. B. sixteen oh five contains little in the way of regulations compared to tobacco alcohol and even some regards medical marijuana. This bill treats dealt a products much like tobacco but it has almost none of tobacco is regulations so imagine all the laws on the books pertaining to tobacco products such as how their package where and how they're sold you can buy them how the product is tested held is labeled what happens to people who violates back laws H. B. sixteen oh five simply gives the marijuana industry the freedom to mostly do as they please. H. B. sixteen five legalizes of substance that is becoming increasingly illegal in other states all together about a dozen states have made delta eighty legal officials of the department of health here in Arkansas tell us that all forms of THC including delta A. are currently scheduled by the Arkansas department of health as a controlled substance. House Bill sixteen oh five undermines the work of the Arkansas department of health to protect the people of Arkansas especially children house bill six oh five undermines the will of the majority of Arkansas voters of course voted against legalizing marijuana just last November. Also FDA warning letters have been issued to all sorts of companies in violations of that address the illegal marketing of an approved delta eight THC products such as unapproved treatments for various medical conditions and misbranding or in other words how the products lack adequate instructions for use or how it's included in various edible products unknown to the consumer. I called the FDA is very concerned about the growing popularity of delta eight THC products being sold online and in stores nationwide these products often include claims that they treats **** alleviate the side effects of. related to a wide variety of diseases or medical disorder such as cancer multiple sclerosis chronic pain nausea anxiety. That FDA principal deputy commissioner Dr Janet woodcock continuing we will continue to safeguard Americans health and safety by monitoring the market place and taking action when companies illegally so products that pose a risk to public health and quote. So to there's no way to be convinced this committees had enough time to study this bill could be filed barely two days ago consider the consequences thanks to possible amendments in here expert testimony from officials and other professionals who are probably not here today again because of this coming up in committee so quickly that's said to be naive to think voting this bill of committee today is appropriate for Arkansas or the right thing to do for those many of other reasons original please vote against house bill sixteen oh five. Thank you I'll do my best to answer any questions are there any questions. I think I have one so if we do ban and it gets tied up in court would you not rather have something else that we can fall back on that actually would keep children from receiving this product right now. The question to me yes I I would rather try to ban and I I a person that was not my question my question lies I understand I would love for it to be banned too but my question to you is. If it can't be by and say that it gets tied up in courts in the whole time it's tied up in court these thirteen twelve ten year old kid still getting this seems like that to a disservice to our state well this is tied up in court over here when we could have something that was actually stop and that purchase from happening. Would you not agree with that. I would love to see a band I'd like to see that route taken first and then subsequent you are okay if it's tied up in court and children can still purchase the product I'm not children purchasing the product I'm sorry I'm not okay with children purchasing a product so I understand what you're saying so you would rather have. Something to fall back on just in case the band has to go to court. Of if this bill were to proceed and Senate bill three fifty eight were to proceed the same time that before I do that would be fine with me I guess thank you I appreciate your answer representative Wardlaw you're recognized. It is give me madam chair if I ask. I think I want to clarify some of your testimony of the list and then another room. Do you think this in any way legalizes more than just delta eight because you reference the THC contents and you act like this may may make marijuana legal is that the physician family council as in. looking at the definitions of the in the bill basically it says any derivative shop tell me where tell me where and what line you're reading up Page two. One twenty eight line twenty eight to thirty two. Okay. And then on the next page you've got another Page three line eight she's been line six and down talks about him derived products those those percentages that are in that manager I'm sorry you're recognized can I have latitude to have yes Is question your. Of those that point oh three percent I'm a little familiar with that because Hempstead farm to live in my area since it's been let when it went through that project those levels are the same as those levels of rated for those forms today they exceed that level they have to destroy those crops so this is not allowing any more. Then already is allowed and health products. Do you dispute that. Page fourteen okay. That was page three what yeah I'm I'm I'm gonna answer questions by going Page fourteen following you. I'm sorry I'm following okay yep Page fourteen line nineteen to twenty one. We're not sure how this tested representative sample can be confirmed obviously talks about further down on page fourteen how the or so tobacco control hold promulgate rules investigators issue subpoenas about on the approved laboratories paraphrasing so on but or we're not really sure that if just one of those point three point. point three percent levels that are already there today they're not raising that level so he's not allow anyone to sell marijuana and the stores is the same as it is today. You dispute that amount I don't dispute that amount I just be whether the tested representative samples going to be the one that goes under the threshold or. It would probably be the one used to go under the threshold there might be other tested samples that aren't thank you manager. Are there any other questions. Thing no other questions thank you for testimony Mister Scott is it's gallon tubs or Scott to scout. You're recognized. Steps please recognize yourself and who you're with for the record. My name Scouts dubs and I'm here today on behalf of trippers vaping hint. We manufacture vapor and him based products in our lab in Greenbrier I'm here today speaking in support of H. B. sixteen oh five I believe it to be an appropriate response to the unfortunate marketing of hemp products in our state specifically delta eight products there's another bill coming out of the Senate right now called as B. three fifty eight which intends to totally ban some of my hand products instead of simply regulating them like this bill does. Last week as I was reading the Senate bill I understood that the sponsors honestly wanted to remove the bad players and hemp products intended for adults that look like knock off skittles bags in oreos I want that to. None of my products have cartoons or blatant copyright infringement my husband I have been manufacturing products for over eight years we employs sixteen people we have a state licensed facility for E. liquid manufacturer license similarly to this bill where we have been helping thousands of people in our community switch from harmful cigarettes for years and now we help blue collar hard working Arkansans find relief with CBD and hemp that either can't afford the dispensary prices or can't afford to lose their job over a drug test. Products in the dispensaries are sometimes overly intoxicating so we offer an alternative. My point is not to sell you on the benefits of hemp products. But the harm of banning it you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Consumers want this product it is banned rather than regulated there will be a black market explosion and we will end up with another in valley situation where people were getting poisoned by black market vape cartridges in two thousand nineteen. H. B. sixteen oh five as robust and well thought out answer to a potential problem that many of us as seen in our corner convenience stores it addresses marketing restrictions licensing fees traceability and even laboratory testing of products before the inter commerce is something I've wanted to see in the industry for a long time it will remove the bad players and help the mom and pop businesses like mine. I'd like to point out that the Attorney General of Kentucky was also quite confident that he could ban delta eight and is now stuck in litigation so for every state that has attempted to ban delta eight has lost in court that has been challenged I thank you for your time today. Are there any questions. Seeing the question representative James quick on the draw I am sorry. Of. I've got a question the the stuff that we saw the news that purple packaging that looks really attractive that the I guess is on all the channels the product was that product yeah was that product of made in Arkansas. You make it but now we ship this this stuff could be shipped inside state line yes currently okay and some of its made in China I mean and that's really a. Without you know do we have any bad players in Arkansas that manufactures this. Not to my knowledge there's not a lot of that going on here within the state the manufacturing's mainly taking place in California states like that okay thank you thank you madam chair. Thank you ma'am next up we have this Tony rose to speak against it. Is recognized yourself the record then you may be. Thank you my name is Tony rose I represent an American speaks. And I'm here to speak against this bill. In a quick search on a delta eight leave fully June ninth twenty twenty one at least sixty eight Americans have died from delta eighty eight. And that's from the U. S. cannabis Council report FDA report sixty six percent described in person events consuming delta eight may fourth twenty twenty two and nine fifteen twenty twenty one FDA twenty two people consent delta eight fourteen ended up in hospital in West Virginia poison center warns citizens about dangers of da to eight March ten twenty twenty one reddit dot com unexpected very bad first trip from THC coming brutal withdrawal fox twenty three ten twenty one twenty two mother charged. With murder after four year old son dies from ingesting down to eight. You know this of product in this bill goes against everything that the people of Arkansas just voted against. On the recent ballot initiative and that included the control of him. And a lot of people thought they just wanted to control sharks and things made out of him but this is why he was included in that last ballot initiative from big marijuana. It is my suggestion that if you're going to introduce any T. H. C. products and to Arkansas that they all fall within the very careful and thoughtful rules and regulations of the current medical marijuana program. There are safeguards in there and to avoid some of these issues that I've just brought up it's obvious that this is a dangerous product not just the children but to everyone that consumes at. Yes we do have an amendment three fifty eight and the that being considered now right now. And it's my understanding that if that bill fails there is the trigger amendment that will regulate this product. That's my comment. I haven't seen that Senate bill that you're speaking up but I'm going to ask you the same question that I asked them because testimony over and over again has said that the band has not been effective any other state that it's been taken to court we so would we rather have it regulated work yes can't get their hands on it if this is tied up in a legal a legal course over here. I would say that one first of all Arkansans been the first on a lot of good bills that nobody else has been able to pass. The second thing I would say is that it's not just kids getting their hands on so I understand everybody no ma'am I understand that I I know how I'm asking my question I promise and again I. These other states passed a bill that tried to ban something which didn't get banned and it was tied up in litigation while is tied up in litigation people can still purchase this product. Would you rather have a band in place just in case the would you rather have a regulation in place just in case the band doesn't work not this bill okay thank you ma'am thank you any other questions. Thank you thank. Next we have a. Don Harpo or pale. Does that right ma'am yes good please please recognize yourself for the record and then you may begin. When we can't have propped up okay well I just just you know I can't sell any this under this bill. anyway. Turn it back on and now introduce yourself for the record you're with my name is don her pill I'm the owner of misty's CBD wellness centre in Rogers Arkansas I own a CBD retail shop and this bill will affect us greatly I'm all about regulation I've been saying that for forever but none of these bills actually address the problem. Date one of the biggest issues we have is that we have people selling this that have not A. zero clue what it is so therefore they are selling it to minors in a gas station situation they have companies that supply their stores they don't even know the people at the counter don't even know what they're selling so they don't have an age restriction there when you come into a CVS store you have to be twenty one years old to purchase delta eight delta nine products period. Period if you are under that age you may purchase CBD but nothing else it cannot have any THC in it for them to purchase it they also cannot purchase bay parts from us student by CVD can be gone twenty eighteen year old I can't sell to unless they're twenty one okay we fall under tobacco rules I have to have a tobacco lies. Okay I get I get checked all the time for ID we have never been busted one single time okay. This bill into what is I I do agree with the regulations except this bill is basically a medical marijuana bill and the problem with that being is they work within a state medical marijuana systems work with in a state we work with interstate commerce which is one of the enumerated powers of the federal government and that has been mentioned here about how we can bring it in from out other states as well. So. My point being is that this system is so oppressive to retail stores that are CBD that we wouldn't have any products like to sell I went to that basket the other day and I pulled him out I went okay if I look at the C. O. a requirement of the lot numbers the expiration dates and all that have my products don't make in the biggest one I'm scared about this bill is there is a definition on page thirteen about the terms candy candies K. cakes pies copies or any variant of this got me would be a variant candy I would believe yes. Eighty percent of my gummy packages they got me on that that would set me up for a rate that would set me up for court cases in filings that would court set me up for a felony. This bill does not address retail shops my suggestion is to add into here and I have talked to Senator Bryant about this is to add in some some some stipulations that you can apply for a license but you can't have any violations with the ATC you know carting violations with the ATC about something like that how about taking it out of gas stations and I'm also saying bait shop Sunday shops can apply because like people like her she's very you know responsible but most of them like bait there's one called April world we hear it all the time they're selling to minors all the time. So there are shops that you do there are bad players in my industry and that is one of the problems with CBD stores is that we're stuck between the medical marijuana feel trying to put us out of business with legislate legislation like this and then we have been numb nuts that are selling stuff that they have no idea what they're selling we'd like to get rid of the numb nuts personally we really would I mean it makes us look bad I have a client I have customers and we work very closely with our customers to provide a a a a plan for them to feel better. Okay I don't and we we talked we say this is how you dose we spent probably I've spent up to two hours with the customer just trying to get them to understand how to use their medicine what the right fit is we don't we can't promise anybody anything but we do help a lot I have actually helped a woman recover from blood cancer that was on CBD but I have help that we help kids with autism ADD ADHD all the time but the back to this bill this is a little bit over excessive on here and there's not very much clarity in here and I would like you to just slow down a little bit I'm not saying we're gonna stop this I appreciate that you want to regulate this because we definitely need that okay but there's so much in here that is going to knock every CV the shop that does good for their customers out of business the only way that we can really truly track the system for you is to buy a POS system that cost somewhere between ten and fifteen thousand dollars and has about a five to six hundred dollar fee every month to maintain that system it's locked into a state wide medical marijuana system so there is no system for us to track all the vendors that are all across the country and what they do so what we do personally is we actually talked or vendors. I get him on the phone I I can't tell you how many sales people I've made cry because I tell them I'm not buying your products because you can't tell me how it's sourced you can't tell me how you produce it you can't tell me that since that synthetic or natural because there are companies that do natural delta eight it is possible okay they're not all sentada synthetic okay. The problem with people getting sick and dying is because they're getting stuff from gas stations and bait shops that are buying the cheapest possible product they can buy and that's where the problem lies because the synthetic delta eight will make you sick there are three grades of natural delta eight and that's why I mean I sit there I talk to myself. What grade are you using what are you doing how does it work talk to me about your products I drive them crazy and that's what CBD stores do we talk to ex I talked to extract consultants I talked to lawyers I talked to lawyers all the time I read bills constantly to try to keep up with the laws can I give an example of what our laws are like that I have to abide by. And I have to know every single one in the funny thing is you guys never tell us what the are you just expect us to know. So I would like to see the slow down journalist we bit. And we make a little bit of advice a little bit of a a change to a not much it's really pretty good actually but I would like some clarification on it because it makes it sound like the retail shops are going out of business on this and there are some of us that are responsible people as as action was saying there are responsible players in this industry who really do care about what we give to people and I haven't killed a single person yet. OR made them sick yet I've had them come and tell me about getting products in the making them sick and then I go I'm never leaving you again because I trust you. And that's why I would like you to slow down. That's shall fit for today and let's take a look at this let's work cook talked with CBS road were right in the middle of everything we see and hear everything so I just as slow down a little bit thank you for your testimony thank you Robbie Vogel. To speak against the bill. Now you don't have to a you know I'm I'm on a different bill I'm so sorry so sorry. No we don't need you to come it's all right Mister jim bail. So the bill you want to speak ounce are is not being present today Lloyd let's NO that. We're. All right recognizes of the record you may begin my name is jim bill on the board of directors of what's called the Wall Street foundation here in Little Rock we're the largest state nonprofit that deals with alcohol and substance abuse. I am also a volunteer in the prison system and have done that for about thirteen years. What I have learned through the Wall Street and the prison system is that. Any time you introduce any mind altering drugs. To the public under any form any nine all it does is lead to a stronger. Mind altering drug. If I were to take all of the inmates that I've dealt with over the last thirteen years. And ask them what they would say is probably the reason that they're in prison almost all of them would say drugs. Now that doesn't mean that they were on drugs when they committed their crimes but what they would tell you is that. When they were teenagers most of them started using some type of drug typically I'm gonna call it marijuana weed pot whatever you wanna call it. In age thirteen they realize it made him feel good. And what happens to the thirteen or fourteen counted that feels good when he turns fifteen sixteen seventeen his brain says boy that makes me feel good but I would like something strong. And they end up getting a stronger stronger drug cost more money so you've got marijuana pot it's the gateway drug for something stronger. So what happens is these people that are now teenagers in order to get their stronger drug that go commit crimes. In the end up in prison and the presenter for those Arkansas is the fourth highest incarcerated state in the United States. And in my opinion. It's mainly because of what people have done in the drug industry. Anytime you have a mind altering drugs it is become legal for any reason the children if any place will say oh that's legal now therefore I need someone that the one state that people had been following for years it's the state of Colorado that was the first state. To legalize. Recreational marijuana. The statistics in Colorado are frightening you can Google on your phone today the effects of marijuana on the state of Colorado. And read article after article of what's happened. In the state this is recreational marijuana is okay I will I'm read you just a couple of quick statistics that come from from Colorado. An example in the year two thousand and nineteen. There were more people committing suicide from the age of ten to nineteen. Then opioids alcohol and heroin combined. So it's what I call a suicide road. For the adolescence of this country. We know that marijuana causes psychosis. We know what causes schizophrenia and we know what causes paranoid. At least ten of the mass murders that we've had happen in this country at least ten of them were marijuana smokers. What happens and what we've learned in the Wall Street foundation is we have tons of people that are addicted to various things whether it's marijuana crystal meth United. And once you get into the stage of for paranoia sets in. Schizophrenia's sets in. Psychosis you leave reality and create all types of problems for society. And I deal with people in the prison system every week that in my belief. If it hadn't started with what I call with with they thought was a simplistic drug that wasn't that dangerous. Our prison system wouldn't have what we have today. That's all I've got. Thank you for your your testimony next we have Mister Jerry **** to speak against it. I will let everybody know that the Senate sponsor did of the other bill did text me and say there is a trigger bill a trigger in it just say United. Thank you madam chair and That is exactly what I came to Port was that Tyler dis the Senate sponsor as issue pointed out I did text him and say does Senate bill three fifty eight have a trigger mechanism in it that says if this measure is struck down are tied up in court we'll delta eight be regulated the end and he said yes so the answer to that question I think is that question has been has been answered. As far as I only have one other comment in that is people talk about well how much delta eight is going to be in these products and they say there's going to be a certain amount and I know that see in the bill. The people of Arkansas have made it very clear. When they voted for medical marijuana they put it in the constitution and said we think for medicinal purposes. Cannabis products like this should be allowed. When they were asked last fall if any other cannabis product like Medicare like recreational marijuana should be allowed they said absolutely not. And so to me it's a relevant the percentage or that are not that's not the main issue the main issue is dealt eight is an intoxicating substance and this would make it legal. And so the Senate bill says it is illegal and to me that's a very very simple and it says if it is tied up in court our effort to make it illegal is tied up in court then it can be regulated no that's from the word of the sponsor the bill passed the Senate committee unanimously yesterday probably be voted on in the Senate this afternoon or maybe tomorrow it'll be over here for you to look at. If it's not a good bill you have an opportunity to vote it down but I would urge you not to pass this bill today into you've had a chance to look at the whole picture and so that's why I'm here to say please vote against this bill thank you thank you madam chair. Thank you for your testimony thank you would you like to close for your bill. Yes thank you madam chair I'm here to talk about this bill I'm not here to talk about Senate bill I ask that you look at this bill in its own merits I don't like this product is still to a not a fan really I don't use this product but the fact of the matter is it's been legal for five years in the state this bill does not legalize it this bill regulates it there's been zero regular. Last this bill makes it illegal to sell it or by as a minor this bill requires that all product be tested in the state to make sure that it does stay within that twenty eighteen farm bill levels that point three percent and it does tested to make sure it is what it's actually saying it is not these west coast product manufacturers that come in and try and sell our children terrible products. This bill stipulates that you have to have to a tobacco license to be able to sell it not anybody but you're gonna be regulated by the tobacco control and also bans the sale of the button the flowers just like Indiana's law. Every other band that's they've tried to an act has failed or been tied up in court during junctions or stays. I'm running this bill because I know some of sure fire way that we can legally regulate this product for responsible adults and get off the shelves. As quick as possible for these kids. If I thought there is no other way. I would be pursuing that other alternative but I know for a fact that we can remove this product from children's grass if we pass this bill and with that I ask for a good vote thank you. With the will of the committee. I have a motion to pass all in favor say aye. Opposed no. Congratulations your bill is passed next we have house bill sixteen oh six represented more. Thank you madam chair my name is representative Jeremiah ward representative for district sixty one and with your permission I would like to bring a witness that's fine to the table. Our mind you we're on a very limited time limit so. Yes ma'am so. Good afternoon madam chair members with me my name's Steve good I represent natural state council what this bill does is you have stores that. Our license to sell tobacco and will buy tobacco from these wholesalers. This may be a thirty thousand dollar to back a bill may be fifty thousand dollars back a bill with this bill does it says that if you do not pay your debts that tobacco wholesaler you are liable for that debt and can no longer by from other tobacco wholesalers until you satisfy the initial that from the first wholesaler the still low and also says that if you decide to sell your tobacco for your store and your to back a license to somebody else the debt follows that license and with that a building for any questions are there any questions. Seeing no questions do you want to add something of madam chair members a committee I think representative more is tied up very good I just want to point out that this is a problem today that alternately could affect the state of Arkansas on the tax revenue that the that we receive these tobacco sellers collect almost two hundred twenty million dollars in tax annually for the state their partner with the state and collecting excise tax and cigarette the backs and and those wholesalers can actually come back and get their money back from the state if they're not paid not number choosing to do that today but that is an Avenue that they have and so with the passage of this bill and with the help with the great folks over tobacco control we can get this problem it in the bud and everybody will be made no are there any questions seeing no questions there's no one signed up to speak for or against the bill was the will of the committee. Motion do pass all in favor say aye. Does not know congratulations your bill is passed and that is now we are adjourned. Or.