Arkansas medical marijuana vendors to be chosen by merit

LITTLE ROCK— The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission has opted to license dispensaries based on the merit of their applications instead of using a lottery.

The decision made Wednesday reverses a draft rule that required dispensary applicants to meet minimum requirements to enter a lottery in order to present their plan to the commission, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

With its decision, the commission also eliminated an option that would have reduced regulation and costs for dispensaries that didn’t grow marijuana.

The commission made the decision after hearing critics of the draft policy during a public hearing last week in Little Rock.

“That’s what I absolutely wanted,” said Melissa Fults, executive director of Drug Policy Education Group and one a critic of the lottery plan. “I’m a happy camper.”

But some lawyers expressed concerns, saying having different applications for dispensary slots wouldn’t be fair and would likely result in lawsuits.

Dispensaries will face a $15,000 one-time licensing fee and a $22,500 fee to renew the license annually under the commission’s new rules. The businesses would also need to provide proof of assets or a $200,000 fee to renew the license annually under the commission’s new rules.

Application fees would remain $7,500, with half of the amount refunded if an application isn’t successful.

The commission meets again Tuesday to finalize the changes that will later be reviewed and approved by the Arkansas Legislative Council.