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Governor, Speaker, Senate Leader Name 5 to Medical Marijuana Commission

3 min read

Gov. Asa Hutchinson, President Pro Tempore of the Senate Jonathan Dismang and Speaker of the House Jeremy Gillam announced Wednesday five appointments to the new Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission. 

They are:

  • Dr. Ronda Henry-Tillman of Little Rock, a surgical oncologist specializing in breast cancer treatment at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She is also co-director of Cancer Control and Population Sciences for the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and was appointed earlier this year to serve on the state’s Breast Cancer Control Advisory Board through 2020. 
  • Dr. Stephen J. Carroll of Benton, COO of Allcare Correctional Pharmacy in Arkadelphia.
  • Attorney Travis W. Story of Fayetteville, the founder of Story Law Firm, who practices bankruptcy, civil law, property law, business planning, estate planning and church law. He also owns Pinnacle One, which creates commercials for political campaigns and content for churches that need legal resources.
  • James Miller of Bryant, owner and CEO of public affairs firm James Miller & Associates in Little Rock. Miller previously served as Dismang’s chief of staff and as chief legislative officer under former Gov. Mike Beebe. 
  • Dr. J. Carlos Roman of Little Rock, a pain management specialist. 

The governor appointed Henry-Tillman. Gillam appointed Carroll and Story. Dismang appointed Miller and Roman. 

The commission will administer and regulate the licensing of medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation facilities in Arkansas as laid out by the state constitutional amendment voters approved in November. Its first meeting must be called within 15 days, according to the amendment.

The commission must also begin accepting applications for dispensaries by June, and will be working with the state Department of Finance and Administration in its dealings with businesses.

Up and Running

During the news conference, the governor and legislators talked about the process of setting up the medical marijuana program, which will issue licenses for a limited number of marijuana dispensaries and growers.

Hutchinson said he’d like to see a lottery system like the one the state uses to award alcohol permits. He said the state has experience with such a system, which he said is fair and could prevent big businesses from taking over the new industry.

The governor said the commission has 120 days to develop regulations and has a lot of work to do. Asked if he’d want to give the commission more time, the governor said that while his administration would not slow the process, it wants to get it right, and not rush it either. 

The Legislature could tweak the law with a three-fourths vote, but Gillam said it was too early to say whether any changes would be made during the legislative session that begins next month.

At least one lawmaker has already filed a bill that would delay the launch of the program. A proposal by Rep. Doug House, R-North Little Rock, would give state agencies until early May, rather than early March, to adopt rules for the program. It also would delay the deadline to begin accepting dispensary applications to July 1.

An open question is how the incoming Trump administration will treat marijuana, which remains prohibited by federal law. Hutchinson, who campaigned against medical marijuana, said that until President-elect Donald Trump’s marijuana policy becomes clear, he would implement “the will of the people.”

Hutchinson said he’s known Trump’s nominee for attorney general, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., since the 1980s and planned to speak to Sessions about medical marijuana and other issues after his appointment is confirmed.

Hutchinson called the commission members, who did not attend the news conference, a “very balanced” group. By the law, commissioners must have no entanglement in the new marijuana industry.

Hutchinson, Gillam and Dismang were asked how their respective appointees voted on the medical marijuana amendment. Only Dismang answered, saying both his nominees voted against it. 

Video of the Governor’s News Conference

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