Just a month after the state’s first medical marijuana dispensaries opened, Arkansas’ new legal cannabis industry is already a million-dollar affair.
Since Doctor’s Orders Rx opened its dispensary May 10 in Hot Springs, it and its same-town rival, Green Springs Medical, have sold over $1.1 million worth of the drug, according to an accounting by the state.
Arkansas’ third and fourth dispensaries, in Clinton and Helena-West Helena, are also on the cusp of opening, according to an update from Scott Hardin of the Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration.
“Regarding additional dispensaries opening, Arkansas Natural Products, located in Clinton, was inspected last week by ABC Enforcement agents,” Hardin told Arkansas Business, referring to his department's Alcoholic Beverage Control division. “The results of that inspection are currently under review by ABC leadership.” Hardin said approval to open the Clinton store could come as early as tomorrow, and that Arkansas Natural, owned by Louis Wig, Ezechiel Nehus and Stephen Shrum, may open immediately upon getting the state’s OK.
“Delta Cultivators (doing business as Greenlight Dispensary), located in Helena-West Helena, recently requested inspection,” Hardin said, and is working with the ABC to set an inspection date soon.
Meanwhile, sales continue to be brisk at the Hot Springs dispensaries. Through noon Tuesday, Doctor’s Orders, which opened on May 10, had sold a total of 56.13 pounds of medical marijuana in 5,153 transactions, Hardin said. “A purchase of any individual strain is registered as a transaction. If a patient purchases two strains, this registers as two transactions.”
Since Green Springs Medical opened on May 12, it has sold 113.16 pounds of cannabis through 10,485 transactions, Hardin said. “Combined, this is 169.29 pounds of medical marijuana… approximately $1.11 million in total sales.”
