Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Fayetteville dispensary opens
Facility is third location for medical marijuana in region.
FAYETTEVILLE — The city’s first medical marijuana dispensary opened Saturday morning.
Acanza, 2733 N. McConnell Ave., is Northwest Arkansas’ third open dispensary and the ninth dispensary to open in the state.
“We’re grateful that we’re able to open the doors to all these patients,” said Randi Hernandez, owner. “It’s been a long process to get here, and we’re thrilled and excited to have our doors open.”
Anthony Scott, 43, of Fort Smith was one of Acanza’s first customers.
Scott stopped at the dispensary while in the area visiting a friend. He said he obtained a prescription for medical marijuana to help treat migraines.
“It’s very good for me because it’s more convenient,” Scott said, noting he no longer needs to go to other states to obtain medical marijuana. “I hope the quality is good,” he said of Acanza’s medical marijuana.
Medical marijuana has the potential to benefit patients who use it responsibly, Scott said.
“It’s a good thing as long as people just use it as appropriately as they can and don’t over indulge in it,” he said.
Hernandez said she anticipates having plenty of customers based on what other Northwest Arkansas medical marijuana dispensaries have experienced.
“Right now the turnout is amazing already and the doors have not even opened,” she said.
Hernandez cautions patients to remain aware of the laws governing access to medical marijuana dispensaries before vising Acanza.
Only medical marijuana cardholders or caregivers managing medication for patients are authorized to enter the dispensary, she said. Patients with medical
marijuana cards may enter the dispensary with their children, she added.
“That’s a big enforcement that’s happening,” Hernandez said, stressing anyone who isn’t legally permitted in the dispensary will have to wait outside while patients shop.
Acanza offers marijuana in its traditional form as well as edibles and concentrated oils, she said.
The plan is for Acanza to eventually include a cultivation site, Hernandez said. The business has about 20 employees.
The region’s first dispensary, The ReLeaf Center, opened Aug. 7 on McNelly Road in Bentonville. Another dispensary, The Source, opened Aug. 15 on Razorback Drive in Bentonville. ReLeaf and The Source were the seventh and eighth dispensaries to open in the state.
ReLeaf served an estimated 287 customers its opening day, while The Source had about 160 customers its opening day.
ReLeaf will begin the process to become a cultivation site this winter, Buddy Wayne of the business said.
A patient or caregiver ID card is necessary to buy medical marijuana products.
More than 22,000 people in the state had the cards as of Friday, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.
Dispensaries in Arkansas had sold more than 1,275 pounds, or about $9.1 million worth, of medical marijuana as of Friday, said Scott Hardin, spokesman at the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.
PurSpirit Cannabis, formerly called Northwest Arkansas Medical Cannabis Co. or Valentine Holdings, at 3390 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fayetteville is projected to open by Nov. 1, a representative for the company said.
Acanza will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.