Arkansas Streamlines Medical Cannabis Application Process
The application process for Arkansas’ medical cannabis program has been completed by the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission. Last week, the five-member commission announced that a more comprehensive and defined scoring method had been developed.
“We need to make it clear on the front end to the applicant exactly what’s expected of them,” said Commissioner Stephen Carroll. Applicants can earn up to 100 points with sections focusing on operating cannabis facilities in compliance, applicant qualifications, financial disclosure and an operations plan. The commission has no current estimate on the number of projected applicants.
According to the Department of Finance and Administration attorney Joel DiPippa, the scoring method was needed to avoid distribution lawsuits. The 90-day application period begins on June 30. 32 dispensary licenses and five cultivation facility licenses will be issued. Three additional cultivation facility licenses could be issued further down the line. The scoring timeline has not yet been revealed.
The cultivation license application fee is $15,000, and an additional $100,000 fee follows for applicants that are approved. A dispensary license application includes a $7,500 fee. Eight geographic zones have been set apart throughout Arkansas for the distribution of medical cannabis. Cannabis registration cards have been approved from the state’s Board of Health.
Commissioners James Miller and Travis Story voted against the proposal. Last November, Arkansas became the first state in the Bible Belt to legalize medical cannabis. With 6,697 congregations dotting the state, acceptable zones are limited. The town of Malvern, for example, is nine square miles but is home to 94 congregations. Dispensaries must be located at least 3,000 feet from churches as well as schools and daycares.
Arkansas is one of 29 states that recognize medical cannabis according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Qualifying conditions include but are not limited to cancer, severe arthritis and Crohn’s disease, intractable pain caused by chronic conditions, severe nausea or seizures.
