The state opened the first medical marijuana dispensary on May 2019 and has spent a total of $1,5 billion.
By Sonny Albarado, Arkansas Advocate
Arkansans are spending $10 million more this year on medical cannabis than they did in the first eight month of 2024. According to the finance department, the state will surpass the record it set two years earlier.
According to a state Department of Finance and Administration press release, Arkansans purchased medical marijuana from state dispensaries for $193.1 millions from January through August. This compares with $182.5 in the same time period the previous year.
Scott Hardin, a spokesperson for the department, said that with daily sales of about $800,000.00 in 2025 we will surpass our 2023 record sales total $283,000,000.00.
Hardin noted an increase of 52,292 lbs in total cannabis sales from 2025.
Tax revenue collected by the state from medical marijuana was $5.38 millions in July and Augurary. This brings total tax collection for this year up to $21.57million.
According to the Finance Department, patients spent $24,262,201 on 6,721 pounds in July and $24,647 1,70 pounds in August.
According to a press release, the two dispensaries that sold the most marijuana were Natural Relief Dispensary Sherwood and Suite 443 Hot Springs. Suite 443 in Hot Springs sold 1,419.6 pounds of medical marijuana for the two months. Natural Relief sold 1,317.7 lbs between July and August.
Hardin stated that since May 2019 when the first medical marijuana dispensary in Washington opened, a total of $1.55 billion was spent.
Arkansas Department of Health reported 109,060 patient cards active. Hardin reported that although the Medical Marijuana Commission had licensed 38 dispensaries only 36 of them were actually operating. Hardin said that the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board of California revoked the license for one of these closed dispensaries last year. The owner is still appealing the decision.
Arkansas Advocate published this article first.