Arkansas medical cannabis dispensary sued for trademark infringement

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Doctors Orders Pharmacy, a White Hall, Arkansas-based chain of drugstores, filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit against Doctors Orders Rx, one of the state’s two operating medical marijuana dispensaries.

The situation underlines why marijuana firms should carefully consider legal due diligence as they develop names and marketing materials – or potentially face similar lawsuits.

The pharmacy is suing the MMJ retail shop because it alleges its name is too similar to the drugstore’s brand, causing confusion among customers, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

A spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration told Little Rock TV station KARK the dispensary can file for a change in trade name without impacting its day-to-day operations.

A lawyer for the MMJ dispensary responded to a previous cease-and-desist letter sent by the pharmacy and said the company would continue to use the name Doctors Orders Rx, KARK reported.

But the dispensary has not responded to the new lawsuit, the TV station noted.