4 minute read
CANNABIZ
MARIJUANA EXPO RETURNS
BY GRIFFIN COOP
Arkansas medical marijuana patients kept cannabis in high demand over the past three years. This month, those patients will have a chance to interact with many of the dispensaries and cultivators behind the state’s cannabis supply.
The Medical Marijuana and Wellness Expo will bring together patients, cannabis businesses, regulators, lawyers and doctors to discuss a wide range of cannabis topics Feb. 18-19 at the Albert Pike Masonic Center at 712 Scott St. The event is presented by the Arkansas Times and the Arkansas Cannabis Industry Association.
Since 2019, Arkansas medical marijuana patients have fueled a growing industry that sold nearly 76,000 pounds of marijuana, with sales eclipsing $500 million in just 32 months. Last year, the state’s dispensaries sold 40,347 pounds of marijuana for a total of $264.9 million, according to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. There are more than 79,810 active patient cards in the state, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.
The Medical Marijuana and Wellness Expo will feature former state Rep. Eddie Armstrong of Responsible Growth Arkansas, an organization that advocates for adult-use cannabis in Arkansas.
In addition to Armstrong, participants on the first day of the expo, called Industry Day, include Robert DeBin, president of the Arkansas Cannabis Industry Association; Doralee Chandler, director of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division; Storm Noland, owner of River Valley Relief Cultivation; Alan Leveritt, publisher of the Arkansas Times; and Dr. Joe Thompson, executive director of Arkansas Center for Health Improvement.
Attendees on the first day can expect to learn about the cannabis industry, with updates on regulations and legislation, compliance and advertising. Budtenders will receive free entry on the first day of the event. SERIOUS BUSINESS: (Top) Elizabeth Michael and Martin Thoma spoke at last year’s Medical Marijuana and Wellness Expo. (Bottom) Patients and providers learn about new medical marijuana products and devices on the expo floor.
serving better than bar food all night long
Kitchen open until 1:30am February
3 - Marbin 8pm 11 - All In 9pm 12 - Treasure Chest Burlesque Show 9pm 19 - Joe Buck Yourself 9pm 22 - Thelma and the Sleaze w/ Katy Guillen and the Drive 8pm 26 - And Then Came Humans 9pm
BEST BRUNCH IN LITTLE ROCK/ NORTH LITTLE ROCK
Check out upcoming bands at Fourquarter.com
GROWING THE BUSINESS: Cultivators, dispensaries and patients mix and mingle.
The second day of the event, called Patient Day, will feature DeBin; Armstrong; cannabis expert Dr. Brian Nichol; and a panel discussion that will address topics such as qualifying conditions for a medical marijuana card, the uses of cannabinoids, the state of medical cannabis and common questions generally associated with medical marijuana.
The second day of the event will also include breakout sessions on a wide range of topics, including:
Cannabis 101
Cooking with Cannabis
Medications and Cannabis
Medical Marijuana products, devices and their best uses
Terpenes? What are they?
Our animals and CBD
Mental Health and Cannabis
The expo will also have a breakout session and lectures on mental health and cannabis, sponsored by Face2Face Therapy. Angela Campagna, a veteran and licensed therapist at Face2Face in Conway, specializes in working with veterans, post traumatic stress disorder and mental health issues.
On Saturday, ticketed attendees can receive a voucher for half-off a new patient certification with one of the partner physicians at the new patient voucher registration booth.
For more information on the expo or to purchase tickets, go to centralarkansastickets.com.
MOVEMENT ON INDUSTRY-BACKED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Responsible Growth Arkansas continues to pursue a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana.
In December, the organization filed a financial report with the state Ethics Commission that showed contributions of $350,000 each from five of the state’s cultivators. Those contributors, whose contributions total $1.75 million, are Bold Team, LLC of Cotton Plant; Good Day Farms Arkansas, LLC of Rogers; Osage Creek Cultivation, LLC of Berryville; DMCC, LLC of Jonesboro and NSMC-OPCO, LLC of White Hall.
Responsible Growth Arkansas filed paperwork as a Ballot Question Committee in October, stating that the group “will advocate for the passage of an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to allow the regulated sale of adult-use cannabis in the state.”
Chaired by Eddie Armstrong, the organization has not provided details of the forthcoming initiative. But Armstrong said he expects to announce the details on the petition drive and more in the coming weeks.
“We are proud to begin our campaign for a responsible, regulated approach to expanding adult-use cannabis in Arkansas,” Armstrong said via email. “Our efforts will not only create jobs and grow the Arkansas economy, but also support law enforcement, court system funding and provide resources to expand health care research; while bringing down costs for medical marijuana patients. Over the coming weeks, we will officially launch our signature gathering effort, roll out our campaign leadership team, and continue conversations in every corner of the state from Little Rock to Lake Village on the economic, public health and public safety benefits of this initiative. We believe that Arkansans will overwhelmingly support an expanded, regulated marketplace that delivers real results for the people of Arkansas.”
Responsible Growth Arkansas isn’t the only group hoping to get a marijuana initiative on the November ballot. In May, Clair Danner filed the Arkansas Cannabis Industry Amendment and Arkansas True Grass filed the Arkansas Recreational Marijuana Amendment of 2022. In November, marijuana advocate Melissa Fults filed the Arkansas Marijuana Amendment of 2022.
An amendment needs at least 89,151 verified signatures to get on the ballot. The deadline to submit petitions is July 8, 2022.
