How long will patients have to wait for Arkansas medical marijuana? Some questions, answered

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Voters have made Arkansas the first Bible Belt state to legalize medical marijuana, but it will be several months or longer before patients suffering from a host of ailments will be able to buy the drug.

Despite vigorously opposing the Arkansas medial marijuana measure, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he wont stand in the way of the program and asked lawmakers to set aside $3 million for its launch. He also asked state agencies to begin working on the rules needed to set up the program, though other opponents have said theyll push for legislation next year that they hope will limit the program.

Theres plenty of work remaining for the state before the drug can be bought or sold legally. Heres where things stand:

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WHEN WILL ARKANSAS MEDICAL MARIJUANA BE AVAILABLE?

Dont expect to be able to buy medical marijuana immediately. The state agencies that will enforce the amendment the Department of Health, Arkansas Beverage Control Division and the newly formed Medical Marijuana Commission have about four months to adopt the rules for how the program will work.

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WHERE WILL IT BE SOLD?



Arkansas medical marijuana can only be sold by state-licensed dispensaries. Hutchinson and the leaders of the state House and state Senate have about a month to make appointments to the Medical Marijuana Commission, a five-member panel that will issue dispensary licenses. The commission faces a June 2017 deadline to begin accepting applications for dispensary licenses. The amendment allows between 20 and 40 dispensaries, but no more than four dispensaries can be located in one county. It allows between four and eight licensed cultivation facilities, which will grow and supply marijuana for dispensaries. The amendment allows cities and counties to hold special elections initiated by voters to ban dispensaries and cultivation facilities.

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WHO CAN SELL IT?

Right now, no one can until the state licenses dispensaries. The state isnt accepting license applications yet. The commission first has to adopt rules for how it will consider applications for licenses and renewals, and it also has to set fees for dispensary applications. The maximum fee allowed under the amendment for an application is $7,500. Dispensary owners and employees must be at least 21 years old and cannot have been convicted of a violent felony under the amendment, which details other restrictions.

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WHO CAN BUY IT?

When the program is set up, patients who have written certification from a doctor that they have a qualifying medical condition can apply for a state-issued registry card that will allow them to buy marijuana from dispensaries. The state Department of Health is working on the rules for the registry and is ...