Pubdate: Fri, 11 Aug 2017
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2017 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Tafi Mukunyadzi, Associated Press

NO APPLICATIONS TO GROW, DISPENSE ARKANSAS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Demand for permission to use, grow and sell
medical marijuana in Arkansas is low as the state reaches the halfway
point for the application period.

Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration spokesman Scott
Hardin told The Associated Press Friday morning that the agency had
received no applications to grow and distribute medical marijuana.

"We are not concerned, as we understand the applications require
detailed and specific information that will take time to complete,"
Hardin said earlier in the week. "Applicants are likely performing
their due diligence to provide quality applications."

Hardin said officials anticipate applications will start arriving
closer to the Sept. 18 deadline.

There are regulations that limit where greenhouses and distributors
can operate. While setting up rules for licensing, legislators said
growers must be at least 3,000 feet (900 meters) from churches,
schools or daycares, while dispensaries must be 1,500 feet (450
meters) away. Those restrictions will make it difficult for some towns
and small cities to have marijuana operations.

Cultivation facility and dispensary license applications will be
scored and officials will award the permits based on merit. The
department plans to award five cultivation licenses and 32 dispensary
licenses.

Despite the lack of submissions for licenses, there has been interest
in using medical marijuana though that number is low.

There have been 404 applications completed and approved from people
seeking to use medical marijuana as of Tuesday, according to
Department of Health spokeswoman Katie White.

Director of Health Communications Marisha DiCarlo told the AP that the
agency had projected around 30,000 people would apply for medical
marijuana cards.

"This number was based on population, types of qualifying conditions,
and trends in other states," DiCarlo said. "At this time, it is too
early in the process to know if that number will be reached, since
usable, legally obtained Arkansas marijuana is not yet available in
the state."

DiCarlo also said there are several documents applicants have to
gather to complete their applications.

People who want to obtain an ID card must have a physician fill out a
form certifying that they have a qualifying condition for medical
marijuana use. There are 18 qualifying conditions, including
intractable pain, cancer, severe nausea, seizures and post-traumatic
stress disorder.

The ID cards, which cost $50 and must be renewed yearly, will be
issued about 30 days before medical marijuana is available for legal
purchase in the state.
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MAP posted-by: Matt