Two successful applicants ask AR judge to lift order stopping medical marijuana licensing

Two of five companies that were slated to receive Arkansas’ first licenses to grow medical marijuana asked a state judge to lift his order halting the permitting process.

Natural State Wellness Enterprises and Delta Medical Cannabis Company filed a motion requesting that Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen vacate his order preventing Arkansas from issuing its first medical marijuana cultivation licenses.

Griffen ruled last week that the licensing process violated a 2016 voter-approved constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana for patients with certain conditions.

Natural State said in its filing that the case should be transferred to Lee County, where another lawsuit over the licensing process had been filed.

Delta said its license was issued fairly and that the problems raised in a lawsuit by an unsuccessful applicant don’t apply to its facility.

Griffen ruled in favor of the unsuccessful applicant, Naturalis Health.

The state is appealing Griffen’s ruling.

– Associated Press