GARLAND COUNTY, Ark. — The owner of Green Springs Medical, the first dispensary in Arkansas to have its medical marijuana license revoked, appeared in court on Wednesday.
We were the only news station in the courtroom to hear the testimonies.
Attorneys for the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division (ABC) and Dragan Vicentic, the owner of Green Springs Medical, appeared before Garland County Circuit Court Judge Kara Petro.
The judge will decide whether or not to allow the dispensary to continue operations temporarily.
After four witnesses testified, the arguments boiled down to a few factors.
Attorneys for Vicentic said the expired medical marijuana products did not cause harm to patients, and he did not endanger them. The only damage happening is to Vicentic's livelihood.
They hope the judge issues Vicentic temporary operations of the dispensary. In the meantime, he said he would sell the dispensary for $3 million.
The ABC attorney said Vicentic repeatedly sold expired products even when he was told to stop. The attorney said the state does not have to prove that the expired products caused harm; they are only there to prove that Vicentic broke the law.
The attorney said Vicentic should not be allowed to operate the dispensary, and it should remain closed.
In the end, Petro said she was concerned by the testimonies and wanted to review them for a week before deciding.
We spoke with Vicentic as he left the courtroom. He did not want to interview on camera, but he said he hopes the judge will decide what's best for the patients.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board will meet on June 25. Vicentic has requested a temporary license and a transfer of ownership for the dispensary. ABC's attorney said the board could not rule on those requests until Petro makes a ruling.