Arkansas behind on marijuana movement

In November of 2016 Arkansas was thought to be the first state in the Southwest U.S.to legalize marijuana, however that’s no longer the case.

In the last two years, states such as Louisiana, Missouri and Oklahoma have made medical marijuana legal and Arkansas has fallen behind.

Arkansas is now a “red state” facing marijuana issues and many officials still oppose use of the drug in anyway, according to KATV Little Rock.

Earlier this summer a group of legislatures approved emergency rules which enabled the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission (AMMC) to hire a consulting firm.

Together, they reviewed more than 200 applications to operate dispensaries which means the state could potential have cannabis products for sell by mid-2019.

Under the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment, the AMMC can grant five licenses for cultivation establishments and 32 permits for dispensaries.

In September of 2017, the AMMC received 322 applications for cannabis growing greenhouses and retail medical marijuana pharmacies.

Many Arkansas medical marijuana industry members feel their government has purposely postponed the progress of this issue.

Only time will tell how the situation should change.

Copyright The Gayly. 10/9/2018 @ 2:36 p.m. CST.