Family Council News

By Jerry Cox

• Arkansas to Begin Funding Pro-Life Alternatives to Abortion This Month — The State of Arkansas is expected to begin funding pro-life alternatives to abortion in January. Act 622 of 2023 by Sen. Scott Flippo (R/Bull Shoals) and Rep. Lane Jean (R/Magnolia) authorizes $1 million in state-funded grants for crisis pregnancy centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies and social services agencies that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies. The measure also contains language clarifying that grant funding cannot go to abortion providers or their affiliates.

On Dec. 14, lawmakers on the Administrative Rules subcommittee approved rules from the state Department of Finance and Administration paving the way for Arkansas to begin distributing the $1 million to pregnancy centers this month.

Now that abortion is prohibited in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother, we need to support women and families and eliminate the demand for abortion. This grant funding does that. It provides women in Arkansas with actual pro-life options — meaning they are less likely to travel out of state for abortion.

Family Council was pleased to support passage of Act 622 last year, and we plan to work for passage of a similar appropriation measure at the Arkansas Legislature this April.

• Attorney General Rejects Ballot Proposal Writing Abortion into State Constitution — On Jan. 4, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office rejected a proposed amendment writing abortion into the state constitution. This is the second time the A.G.’s team has rejected this abortion amendment, citing ambiguities in the measure’s wording.

Arkansans for Limited Government has been working for the certification of the popular name and ballot title of an amendment permanently enshrining abortion in the Arkansas Constitution. In December, the group filed reports with the state Ethics Commission showing it has received $2,341 in donations supporting the amendment effort.

If approved, this amendment would write abortion into the Arkansas Constitution and erase decades of good, pro-life laws.

Family Council has worked for nearly 35 years to promote and protect the sanctity and dignity of innocent human life in Arkansas. This amendment would place women and unborn children at risk. We are firmly committed to stopping abortion in our state.

• Minnesota Department of Health Issues Warning About High-Dose THC Products — In December, the Minnesota Department of Health issued a warning about illegal marijuana products containing high doses of THC. In a statement, public health officials wrote: “Illegal, high-dose hemp-derived products may contain hundreds of milligrams of THC per serving, and with multiple servings in a package, this can add up to thousands of milligrams of THC — far above the legal limit… These products are produced by a variety of manufacturers and, if consumed, may lead to adverse health effects, such as becoming unresponsive, seizures or psychotic episodes.”

Edibles and other substances containing high doses of THC are sometimes manufactured from industrial hemp — or cannabis. The health department’s statement noted that illegal, high-THC products were found in 39% of hemp retailers inspected in the state. Marijuana edibles containing high levels of THC pose a serious risk. According to the Minnesota Health Department, they can cause: unresponsiveness; extreme anxiety or panic attacks; psychotic episodes (hallucinations, delusions or a loss of personal identity); an increase in heart rate, chest pain or heart attack; sudden high blood pressure with headache; uncontrollable shaking or seizures; and decreased judgment, perception and coordination that can lead to injuries.

Consumers are advised to contact their health care provider if they become ill or begin suffering symptoms of THC overdose after consuming a high-dose cannabinoid product. Nationwide, marijuana products like these — including gummies, candies and other edibles containing THC — are sending kids to the emergency room.

In 2022 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a strong warning highlighting five serious health risks associated with Delta-8 THC manufactured from industrial hemp products. Likewise, researchers at the Oregon Health and Sciences University found poison center calls due to children exposed to marijuana rose 245% from 2000-2020.

Last summer the Centers for Disease Control released a report showing the number of children, teens and young adults sent to the emergency room due to marijuana exposure increased from 2019 to 2022. The report revealed that marijuana-related ER visits surged more than 200% among children under age 11 during that time.