Arkansas lawmakers OK rule allowing panel to hire expert to grade medical cannabis dispensary applications

Lawmakers on Thursday approved an emergency rule allowing the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission to hire an outside consultant to grade more than 200 applications for the state’s first medical cannabis dispensaries.

The rule, reviewed by the Arkansas Legislative Council’s executive subcommittee, also allows the commission to hold unsuccessful applications for dispensaries and growing facilities in reserve for two years in case any licenses are revoked.

Arkansans voted to legalize medical marijuana in 2016, creating Amendment 98 to the Arkansas Constitution. The application process for the lucrative growing and selling licenses has been extremely competitive and has been plagued by regulatory and legal delays.

The five-member commission proposed hiring a consultant because they believe a firm with experience grading similar applications would be able to score the applications much faster than the commissioners could themselves.

The commissioners, all of whom have separate full-time jobs, took about two months to grade 82 applications for cultivation permits earlier this year.

Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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