Marijuana sales approach $180 million

Medical marijuana is displayed in a glass case for customers at Green Springs Medical on March 26, 2020. - File photo by The Sentinel-Record
Medical marijuana is displayed in a glass case for customers at Green Springs Medical on March 26, 2020. - File photo by The Sentinel-Record

Average daily sales of medical marijuana increased more than 6% compared to the previous reporting period, according to information released Tuesday by the state revenue agency.

Arkansans spent $600,000 a day on average, spending $15 million during the 25-day reporting period that ended Sunday. The state Department of Finance and Administration reported $178 million in sales from the 27,473 pounds sold since the state's first legal sale of the drug in May 2019.

Average daily sales fell to $562,500 during the 16-day reporting period that ended Oct. 14. They reached $600,000 during the 20-day reporting period that ended Sept. 9 and $578,947 during the 19-day period that ended Sept. 28.

Suite 443 and Green Springs Medical, Garland County's two licensed dispensaries, finished fifth and 12th in the latest sales report. Suite 443 reported 137.18 pounds sold, and Green Springs reported 74 pounds sold. They ranked sixth and 12th in the previous sales report.

DFA said 31 dispensaries are in operation, with six more in the process of opening. Zen Leaf in El Dorado is the newest location, opening Oct. 22. The state constitutional amendment that legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes authorized the Medical Marijuana Commission to issue up to 40 dispensary licenses.

The ReLeaf Center in Bentonville finished first in sales for the fourth-straight reporting period, reporting 201.40 pounds sold during the 25 days that ended Sunday. Its growing market share has put it within 300 pounds of surpassing Green Springs for the overall sales lead.

The latter opened in May 2019, becoming the second location to legally sell the drug in Arkansas. The ReLeaf Center opened three months later.

Natural Relief in Sherwood ranked second for the fourth-straight reporting period, reporting sales of 197.43 pounds during the latest reporting period. Harvest in Conway reported 150.90 pounds sold, ranking third. The 142.81 pounds reported by Acanza in Fayetteville ranked fourth.

The Tax Procedure Act prohibits the state from releasing revenue figures for individual dispensaries. The Arkansas Department of Health said it issued 93,281 patient cards as of Friday, a 7% increase since mid-October.

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