HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Arkansas’ second medical marijuana dispensary opened quietly in Hot Springs on Sunday – about 18 hours ahead of its scheduled grand opening.
Green Springs Medical began selling medical marijuana around 4:15 p.m. Sunday after resolving issues with a state-mandated sales tracking system. Patients began arriving late morning, prepared to wait in line overnight.
“We had product. We had people standing here wanting to be served. We felt there wasn't a reason to hold them back any further,” Green Springs Medical co-owner Bruce Simpson said.
Green Springs opened its doors one day after the state’s first dispensary, Doctor's Orders, began sales a few miles away.
As of last Thursday, the Arkansas Department of Health had issued nearly 12,000 medical marijuana patient ID cards.
With cannabis from only one of the state’s five licensed cultivation facilities currently available for sale, patients have expressed concern about whether dispensaries will be able to meet demand. Representatives from both of Arkansas’ operating dispensaries are confident their supply will meet demand.
“I wish growers would come down a little bit on price. That's really the only issue I have,” Simpson said. “I'd like to give the end product at a better price to the consumer.”
Green Springs Medical and Doctor’s Orders are among 32 dispensaries the state has licensed to sell medical marijuana.
A spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration says additional dispensaries are likely to open within the next few weeks, but none have requested a final inspection from ABC.
Arkansas voters approved a measure legalizing medical marijuana for certain conditions in November 2016.