Two Medical Marijuana Bills Approved by Arkansas House

Two medical marijuana bills have passed the Arkansas House with minimal opposition. Both were delivered to the Senate with one being shot down already. The House made it clear that if bills are passed, licenses are non-transferrable and can’t be sold from one licensee to another.

The state’s Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission would be in charge of licensing dispensaries and cultivators, according to Arkansas Online. Several House bills regarding licensing, ownership residence requirements and several other measures are circulating. The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment requires at least 60-percent of the Arkansas dispensaries to be owned by Arkansas residents.

An additional bill, HB 1298, requiring license holders to be held by “a person instead of a business or corporation” passed the House in a vote of 83 – 1. This bill also allows licenses to be transferred.

The bill that has failed in the Senate is SB 254. While the votes were 16 – 15 in favor of the measure, the state requires a 2/3 majority.

Discussions regarding medical marijuana, including discussions regarding regulations are taking place more frequently in Arkansas after voters approved medical marijuana in November.