Arkansas Medical Cannabis Sales Top $6M In 3 Months

Medical cannabis sales in Arkansas have reached $6.04 million just three months after sales commenced in the state, according to Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division figures outlined by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports. In all, more than 800 pounds of medical cannabis has been dispensed to patients in the state.

According to the Department of Finance and Administration, the state has collected $91,213 from the 4 percent privilege tax and $77,358 from its regular sales tax on cannabis purchases.

Alcoholic Beverage Control Director Doralee Chandler said the agency’s focus is “providing the remaining 24 dispensaries the support and encouragement to begin serving patients as soon as possible.”

“Every patient deserves close, convenient access to a dispensary as this was the reason four locations were licensed in each of the state’s eight zones. ABC is prepared to take action in January 2020 should any dispensaries not be operational or in the final stages of preparation.” — Chandler, to the Democrat-Gazette

The Department of Health has approved 19,992 medical cannabis patient cards and the sales figures through three months outpaced Ohio – which has triple the population of Arkansas and sold less than $2.5 million worth of medical cannabis over its first three months.

David Couch, the Little Rock attorney who drafted the voter-approved medical cannabis law, noted that the price of an ounce of medical cannabis remains at about $425 in Arkansas dispensaries. Couch noted that many of the dispensaries that haven’t opened yet are run by out-of-state firms.

Currently, there are just eight operational dispensaries in the state.