Arkansas to start with five medical cannabis cultivation licenses

Each of Arkansas’ five health regions will initially be allotted a marijuana cultivation facility license, officials with the state’s medical cannabis program announced this week.

Under the medical marijuana law voters passed last month, Arkansas must license four to eight cultivation facilities and 20-40 dispensaries.

The commission tasked with developing the nascent MMJ industry in Arkansas decided to proceed with caution by awarding just five cultivation permits at first, though that may be revisited later.

The state is under the gun to get its medical cannabis regulatory structure in place, as rules regarding licenses must go into effect by March 9. After that, the commission must start accepting license applications in June, according to the new law.

Under that time frame, commissioners have until late January to draft rules and allow enough time for public comment and a public hearing, the Arkansas Times reported.