Scott Hardin
Ownership of Arkansas Cannabis Companies Remains Murky, Despite Efforts for Transparency
The industry, once promised to be largely owned by Arkansans, has become a maze of unclear ownership and out-of-state influence. read more >
by Kyle Massey, Mark Friedman -
Rural Hospitals Find COVID Relief Funds Come with a Catch
Legislators’ decision to give rural hospitals $60 million in COVID relief helped many hospitals survive, but some found the state’s application system to be cumbersome. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Pope County Judge’s Letter Backs Cherokee Casino
Pope County Judge Ben Cross is doubling down on his support for a casino planned near Russellville by Cherokee Nation Businesses of Catoosa, Oklahoma. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Lawsuit Leaves Cannabis Industry in Limbo
Cannabis firms in Arkansas await more legal action on laws struck down. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
In Arkansas, EVs Climb Uphill Road
EV and hybrid vehicle registrations have surged in Arkansas during the past 16 months, but they still have a long way to go. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Arkansas Cannabis Sales Hit Annual Record
Arkansas cannabis sales hit a new high in 2022, topping $276.3 million, making it the biggest year of sales since sales began in 2019. read more >
by Lance Turner -
Too High? THC Test Results Under Fire
Arkansas has no apparent procedure to confirm THC test results, which play into the pricing of medical marijuana. That revelation comes as lawsuits question the integrity of testing companies that draw their revenue from growers. read more >
by -
ABC Director Revokes Fort Smith Cultivator’s Marijuana License
The decision was somewhat expected, but still was a blow to owner Storm Nolan, who invested $8 million in the business. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Update: Judge Denies Fort Smith Cultivator’s Request for Rehearing in License Case
Storm Nolan argues that a ruling against River Valley Relief was flawed, and says $6 million worth of medical cannabis would go to waste if he's stripped of his license. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
State Moves to Revoke Fort Smith Cultivator’s Marijuana License
The licensing reversal favored 2600 Holdings of Little Rock, doing business as Southern Roots Cultivation, which had sued claiming it should have rightfully won the license. read more >
by -
Casino Apps Prepped; Sports Betting Spikes
Wagers for the month were more than $10.6 million, beating the previous record set in October by $1 million. read more >
Natural Gas Tax Revenue Surges on Higher Prices
The recent surge in natural gas prices has been an unexpected boon to state tax coffers, with just seven months’ worth of gross natural gas severance tax collections for this fiscal year more than doubling total revenue for the previous two fiscal years. read more >
Spirits Up, Say Tax Receipts
Sales of mixed drinks, liquor and beer in Arkansas last year show, unsurprisingly, a decided uptick over those in 2020. read more >
Restraining Order Still in Place on Marijuana Licenses
A Pulaski County Circuit Court judge has extended a temporary restraining order that prevents the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission from issuing the state’s remaining dispensary licenses. read more >
Racial Bias Alleged In Dispensary Denial
A Little Rock Black-owned business that sued the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission also has a case alleging racial discrimination against the firm that scored the applications for medical marijuana dispensary licenses. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Cannabis Cultivators in Fight Over Ouster From Company
The majority owners of Natural State Medicinals Cultivation of White Hall voted in September to expel a married couple from the company. The problem is, the pair don’t want to go. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Medical Marijuana Cards Prized in North-Central Arkansas
Data from the second fiscal year of medical marijuana sales in Arkansas confirms a trend spotted after 2020: Residents in north-central Arkansas are most likely to seek out the ID cards allowing them to buy the stuff. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
Last of 40 Cannabis Dispensary Licenses Slated for Texarkana, Garland County
The two licenses are expected to be issued by March. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Medical Cannabis, as Expected, Sets Sales Record in 2021
Nearly 80,000 Arkansans now have medicinal marijuana cards. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
For the Record (Lance Turner Editor’s Note)
Who owns the medical marijuana business in Arkansas? As with most simple questions, finding the answer is more complicated than it seems. read more >
by Lance Turner -
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