LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – The Arkansas Medical Marijuana commission has voted to
give a consulting group the power to evaluate applications and award 32
dispensary licenses for medical pot.
By a vote of 3-2 Wednesday, the commission agreed that a consulting group,
comprising a five-member panel, could review and score hundreds of dispensary
applications.
Commissioner Travis Story strongly opposed the motion, arguing the commission
itself had a constitutionally-granted responsibility to review and score the
applications. But last week, Arkansas lawmakers passed an amendment granting the
commission the authority to hire a consultant.
Office of State Procurement lawyer David Withrow said the consultant will be
selected within about a month. The commission can award the licenses under a
2016 constitutional amendment which legalized medical marijuana.
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