3 medical marijuana dispensaries approved in West Memphis, 32 in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The 32 businesses that an Arkansas panel approved to sell medical marijuana in the state have been formally awarded their licenses, and three of them are in West Memphis.

The state is divided up into eight zones, and each zone has four dispensaries. West Memphis is included in Zone 3, and the other dispensary in that zone is in Rector.

The Department of Finance and Administration said Tuesday the businesses have each paid their $15,000 licensing fees and posted their $100,000 performance bond. The dispensaries can begin building or preparing facilities but must pass a final inspection before they can open.

Scott Hardin with the Arkansas DFA said some will open in April, and the rest will open throughout the year.

“While an inspection by ABC Enforcement is required before any dispensary opens, we anticipate it will be April at the earliest before a dispensary opens for business. While several of the 32 already have a building in place, others are building from the ground up and will require more time. We think a very limited number (less than five) might open in late April with the remaining dispensaries continuing to open throughout summer 2019 through the end of the year.”

The Medical Marijuana Commission last month said it intended to license the 32 businesses after approving scores from an outside consultant it had hired to review applications. The Commission will meet Feb. 13, Hardin said, to discuss more medical marijuana rules and regulations.

One of the five cultivation facilities licensed by the state was the first get approval last month to begin growing medical marijuana.

All of the dispensary names and locations in the state are listed below.