Arkansas medical marijuana sales higher in February and January

Robert Medley, Fort Smith Times Record
·3 min read
11

Arkansas medical marijuana dispensaries' sales for January and February were higher for the beginning of 2023 compared to 2022, as revenues from taxes grew.

Scott Hardin, spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Finance Administration, reported the amounts of medical marijuana reported sold at dispensaries.

“Sales for the first two months of 2023 increased by $4 million over the same period in 2022,” Hardin said.

State tax collection on medical marijuana totaled $5.3 million for January and February 2023. Dispensaries in Arkansas sold 4,420 pounds of medical marijuana in January and 4,412 pounds in February, the department reports.

Patients spent $45.5 million in January and February to purchase 8,832 pounds of medical marijuana. A total of $23.1 million was spent in January and $22.4 million in February.

In 2022, patients spent $41.53 million in January and February. Patients spent $20.53 million in January 2022 at 37 dispensaries to buy 3,731 pounds and $21 million in February 2022 to buy 3,658 pounds.

For the entire year of 2022, patients spent $276.3 million on 50,547 pounds, the department reports. The amount spent was $264.9 million in 2021.

Natural Relief Dispensary, Sherwood, sold the largest amount during the first two months of 2023 with 884 pounds sold. Suite 443 in Hot Springs followed with 856 pounds sold for the two-month period. Natural Relief Dispensary in Sherwood has been the top seller in the state, according to monthly reports.

The Arkansas Department of Health reports 92,337 active patient cards in 2023.

There has been $94.7 million in state tax revenue collected since the industry launched in mid-2019. Arkansans pay 6.5% tax on medical marijuana sales in addition to a 4% excise tax for a total 10.5% tax. Portions of the monies go to cancer research, drug and alcohol treatment programs, mental health and the state's general revenue fund.

There are two dispensaries in the Arkansas River Valley, The Greenery in Fort Smith and Good Day Farms in Van Buren. There are 38 total dispensaries allowed in Arkansas statewide.

The department reported pounds sold at Arkansas dispensaries in January and February 2023.

The Greenery, Fort Smith, opened on Dec. 18, 2019, the dispensary sold 99.56 pounds in February and sold 97.70 pounds in January, the department reports.

Good Day Farm Van Buren, which opened March 7, 2022, sold 77.65 pounds in February and sold 76.19 pounds in January.

Natural Relief Dispensary of Sherwood sold 441.27 pounds in January and 443.27 pounds in February.

Suite 443 sold 439.07 pounds of medical marijuana in February and 417.63 pounds in January, the department reports.

At other dispensaries in northwest Arkansas, The Releaf Center, Bentonville, opened Aug. 7, 2019 and sold 242.04 pounds in February.

Purspirit Cannabis, Fayetteville, opened Nov. 20, 2019, and sold 220.19 pounds in February.

Plant Family Therapeutic, Mountain Home, opened Feb. 3, 2020, and sold 180.81 pounds in February.

Acanza, Fayetteville, opened September 14, 2019, and sold 147.99 pounds in February, the department reports.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: The medical pot sales climb higher in Arkansas