LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Three of the 32 winning medical marijuana dispensaries were granted permission to move to new locations before the first legal dose of the drug gets sold.
Each is moving closer to a population center, with Fiddler’s Green moving closer to Mountain View for better internet access, NEA Full Spectrum will move from Rector to suburban Jonesboro and in the biggest shift, Grassroots OPCO goes from Ward to a lucrative spot in Little Rock.
The latter’s parent company, Grassroots Cannabis, seems to know what they're doing in the rapidly growing marijuana industry. Their website touts footprints in six states, and their Chicago-based executives, teamed with a local representative, to blanket the application process when the Arkansas market opened up. They placed in the top-5 in three zones, with applications in Hardy and Texarkana, but chose a shuttered commercial space on E. 2nd St. in Ward in Lonoke County.
“Our intent is to move from Lonoke to Pulaski,” Grassroots chief strategy officer Steve Weisman told the Medical Marijuana Commission Wednesday, badly mispronouncing “Lonoke.” “The ask would be because there's no point differential in between counties.”
In its letter asking for the move, Grassroots said it’s option to purchase the Ward space ran out before being selected. The letter said the owner of the property wanted to sell the space to another interested party. On Wednesday, the space had a “for sale” sign out front.
That means the commissioners don’t have to re-evaluate the application even though the location changes from rural Ward to the high-traffic intersection of Kanis Rd, 12th St. and Rodney Parham Rd in the state’s capital city.
“I'm a little bit concerned. I'm hoping that it's secured, and that it's going to be a secure place,” said Sheri McDaniel, co-owner with her husband of neighboring Healthy Lawns & Shrubs. “I’m kind of excited that someone is finally in the building because it needs a little bit of repair work and clean-up.”
McDaniel’s description is less glowing than the way Grassroots described it to the commission. It said the former bar had already been re-zoned to be a dispensary because a different applicant had purchased the property. When they missed the cut, they reached out to Grassroots to make a deal, according to the company’s testimony. Repeated calls to Grassroots were not returned.
“It is a little surprising to see that jump from Ward to Little Rock so quickly,” said Scott Hardin, spokesperson for the commission. “I think what this is really leading to applicants that are struggling with their current locations, now that they have seen the commission is willing to do this, I think we'll see them apply.”
Mayor Gastineau of Ward, took to Facebook with his reaction to the medical marijuana shop moving:
"I am disappointed to announce that the Medical Marijuana Dispensary will not be coming to Ward as planned. This afternoon the Medical Marijuana Commission approved the license owners permission to move their operation to West Little Rock. The license owners said they really wanted to set up shop in Ward, but the real estate deal fell through. I am disappointed because those that need the medicine will now have to drive further to get their prescription filled. I am also disappointed about the potential jobs and economic growth the dispensary could have created. However, I am optimistic that other growth opportunities will come soon."