LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Talk show host Montel Williams is visiting Arkansas to campaign in favor of a ballot measure to legalize medical marijuana.

Williams is appearing Thursday at the Capitol alongside members of Arkansans for Compassionate Care, which gathered signatures to place the measure on the November ballot.

Williams, who lives in New York, suffers from multiple sclerosis. He says he uses medical marijuana to treat symptoms of his condition.

The Arkansas measure would allow patients with qualifying conditions to buy marijuana from nonprofit dispensaries with a doctor's recommendation. If approved, Arkansas would become the first Southern state to legalize medical marijuana.

The Arkansas Supreme Court upheld the proposal last month after a coalition of conservative groups asked the court to block the proposal from the ballot.