Arkansas’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is finalizing approval for a third dispensary to open its doors in the state.
The board which oversees medical marijuana sales and cultivation in the state, is looking to allow Arkansas Natural Products, located in Clinton, to be the next dispensary to do business.
The dispensary had been inspected by ABC agents earlier this week.
Spokesman Scott Hardin with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration said to KUAR News that it was a positive visit and the dispensary is expected to open next week.
“Now it’s just a matter of ABC administration and leadership signing off and saying everything is in place. As soon as that letter is sent,” Hardin commented, “they can then open their doors.”
“We really think this thing is going to start moving as we enter mid-to-late June and early July,” said Hardin.
“In talking to other states and looking at states that have launched with well over two dispensaries – some as many as 10 – the sales numbers here are really, really strong. I think [they] exceeded expectations to say the least,” Hardin also said.
“This has been a long time coming, and with the frustration and the build up toward it, we knew that there would be a lot of interest going into it,” added Hardin. “Now we have two of the five cultivators that are not only growing, but actually providing product to dispensaries. I think you’ll see a third, Osage Creek [Cultivation Center], added to that here fairly soon. They’re growing, but haven’t harvested yet.”