Arkansas to permit medical cannabis deliveries

The Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Board gave approval for state-licensed dispensaries to deliver medical marijuana to patients and caregivers once the state’s MMJ program has launched.

The delivery regulations approved this week include a few restrictions, according to Little Rock television station KATV:

  • Orders must be delivered the same day they are made.
  • Deliveries may be made only between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
  • The deliveries must be signed for by the MMJ patient who placed the order.
  • A patient’s medical marijuana card will be checked for authenticity.

The rule also stipulates that deliveries can be made only to a private residence, such as an apartment or house, and prohibits deliveries to commercial lodging establishments, including dormitories, hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts or any other commercial businesses.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson recently signed two medical marijuana bills that will make it easier for doctors to recommend MMJ and pushed back the deadline for rulemaking governing the new program.

The program likely will have 15,000-30,000 patients after it has been running for three to five years, Marijuana Business Daily estimates, and annual dispensary sales could reach $30 million-$60 million.