More than 40,000 pounds of medical marijuana sold in Arkansas with value of $285 million

More than 40,000 pounds of medical marijuana have been sold in Arkansas since the first dispensary opened in May 2019, according to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission (AMMC). A dispensary in Bentonville has sold the most medical marijuana.

The 42,769 pounds sold is valued at $285 million, according to a press release from Scott Hardin, a spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, the parent agency of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission. State taxes on the dispensary sales since May 2019 total just under $30 million. Most of the tax revenue is placed in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences National Cancer Designation Trust Fund.

The AMMC has issued licenses for 38 dispensaries, with 32 dispensaries in operation and six working toward opening. There are 12 dispensaries that have reached at least 2,000 pounds in sales. The Arkansas Department of Health reports 74,779 active patient cards. Over the last 30 days, patients across the state spent an average of $880,000 each day on medical marijuana purchases, according to the AMMC.

The constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana for 17 qualifying conditions and creating a state medical marijuana commission, was approved by Arkansas voters 53% (585,030) to 47% (516,525) in November 2016. There are only six U.S. states – Alabama, Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wyoming – in which marijuana is illegal to sell in any form for any purpose.

Following are the top five medical marijuana dispensaries in Arkansas, measured by pounds sold.
• Releaf Center (Bentonville)
First opened on Aug. 7, 2019, and has sold 4,618.88 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Green Springs Medical (Hot Springs)
First opened on May 12, 2019, and has sold 3,888.40 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Acanza (Fayetteville)
First opened on Sept. 14, 2019, and has sold 2,889.48 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Natural Relief Dispensary (Sherwood)
First opened on March 17, 2020, and has sold 2,862.28 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Suite 443 (Hot Springs)
First opened on May 10, 2019, and sold 2,790.58 pounds of medical marijuana.