Medical Marijuana Taxes to Fund Free Student Breakfasts in Arkansas

6 February 2025

With a 26 to 2 approval vote, Arkansas lawmakers are advancing SB 59 (PDF), a bipartisan bill that would fund free breakfast for all public school students using medical marijuana tax revenue. Led by Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy) and endorsed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R), the bill would create a Food Insecurity Fund to supplement federal meal programs, prioritizing reduced-price meal copays and summer food assistance before expanding to universal breakfast.

With Arkansas having the highest food insecurity rate in the U.S. in 2023, supporters argue the initiative is essential to ensuring no child starts school hungry. While concerns exist over the long-term stability of cannabis tax funding, the bill signals a major shift in how Arkansas allocates these revenues, linking them directly to social welfare programs.

For the cannabis industry, this move legitimizes marijuana taxation as a tool for public services, while for families, it removes income-based meal stigma and guarantees food access. If passed, SB 59 could set a precedent for other states considering alternative funding for social programs. The bill now heads to the Arkansas House for final approval.

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