2 Garland County pot dispensaries among state’s top 5 sellers

HOT SPRINGS — Garland County’s two medical marijuana dispensaries are among the five that controlled more than a third of the statewide market through July.

Suite 443 and Green Springs Medical ranked fourth and fifth in sales during the first seven months of the year, according to a report the state revenue agency released earlier this week. The more than 3,200 pounds they reported in combined sales accounted for 12% of statewide sales, making Garland the only county with two top-five dispensaries.

Natural Relief Dispensary of Sherwood continued to set the sales pace in the state, moving 392.64 pounds last month. The 2,756.44 pounds the dispensary reported through July also ranked first.

Along with the top three sellers, Suite 443 and Green Springs reported sales totaling more than 10,000 pounds or 36% of statewide sales through July. There are 38 dispensaries in Arkansas. The Tax Procedure Act prohibits the state from releasing revenue figures from individual dispensaries. In aggregate, they reported $23.3 million in July sales, moving 4,171 pounds.

“Medical marijuana purchases increased by more than $1 million from June to July,” the Department of Finance

and Administration said. “An average of $751,720 was spent daily on medical marijuana purchases in July. Since Jan. 1, patients have spent a total of $157.9 million to obtain 27,782 pounds from the state’s 38 dispensaries.”

The 281.08 pounds Suite 443 reported in July sales ranked fourth, putting the Malvern Avenue location just behind third-place CROP Co., 281.83, of Jonesboro. Sales of 1,828.84 pounds CROP reported through July also ranked third.

Green Springs’ 217.77 pounds in July sales ranked fifth, as did the 1,532.92 pounds the Seneca Street location reported through July.

The ReLeaf Center in Bentonville ranked second, reporting sales of 308.61 pounds last month and 2,231.33 through July.

The Medical Marijuana Commission licensed 38 dispensaries, but the constitutional amendment authorizing marijuana for medicinal use voters approved in 2016 allows the commission to award up to 40 licenses. The Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners last week rejected the popular name and ballot title for a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment that would legalize marijuana for recreational use.

The Arkansas Department of Health reported 88,893 active patient cards as of Friday, a 5% increase from the number reported a month ago.