Tag: dispensaries in Little Rock

About UsCOMING SOON Ballot Issue 6(2016), or the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment was an initiative petition passed on November 8th, 2016 by the voting populace of Arkansas. The herein named Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment makes legal the use, possession, and distribution of cannabis, commonly called marijuana, for medical purposes.   All Arkansas Medical Marijuana qualifying patients (see the list of qualifying conditions on physicians page) or designated caregiver in possession of a Registry Identification Card may possess up to 2.5 ounces of medically usable cannabis. Additionally, any and all paraphernalia correlated with medical use of marijuana is also legal.   Patients are protected by the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment, meaning no school or landlord may discriminate or punish an individual for being a qualifying patient, nor may any employer discriminate against anyone based on their history or current status as a qualifying patient.   Dispensaries   The Medical Marijuana Commission will award licenses to dispensaries and cultivation facilities. The commission will administer and regulate the licensing of dispensaries and cultivation facilities’ issuance to operate a dispensary and cultivation facility.   As of November 8th, 2016, the Medical Marijuana Commission in no more than 120 days will establish regulations regarding applications and renewals for dispensaries and cultivation facilities, oversight, record-keeping and security requirements, among others, and standards for labelling, suspension/termination, inspection and advertising. The Medical marijuana Commission also has no more than 180 days to establish all regulations involving labelling and testing standards, including applications and renewals, oversight, record-keeping and security requirements, and standards for labeling, suspension/termination, inspection, and investigation.   As of January 3rd, 2017, the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission has set license and annual renewal fees for cultivation facilities at $100,000. This is in addition to the $15,000 application fee the commission previously determined. The Commission will assign five cultivation licenses statewide.   As of January 10th, 2017  the number of dispensary licenses issued in Arkansas will be 32, spread across Arkansas’ four congressional districts. There are two-tiers of dispensaries: those who grow up to 50 mature marijuana plants and those who do not. Dispensaries who grow will be charged a $25,000 license fee and an annual $32,500 fee. Dispensaries who do not grow, or “storefront” dispensaries require a $2,500 initial license fee and an annual $10,000 fee. Dispensary application fees cost $7,500. The Medical Marijuana Commission shall begin accepting applications for licenses no later than June 1, 2017.   The commission also decided to require cultivation facilities to post a $500,000 cash or surety bond that pays if a facility fails prior to opening. The proceeds would reimburse the state for “cleanup costs”. This does not apply to dispensaries.   All dispensaries and cultivation facilities licenses will expire one (1) years after the date of issuance.   Arkansas Medical Marijuana dispensaries may not sell more than 2.5 ounces per patient in a 14-day period.   Dispensaries may not be located or operate within one thousand five hundred feet (1,500) of a public school, private school, church, or daycare center that exists before the dispensaries application date.   Dispensaries are allowed to establish contact with a cultivation facility to allow the dispensary to cultivate one or more mature marijuana plants for them to grow.