The Coronavirus outbreak has halted the operation of global businesses, schools and the cannabis industry. Cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in all 50 U.S. states. Health scares – combined with the fact that supply is running short, due to China’s factories closing temporarily – has caused pot stocks to plummet.

However, Arkansas’ medical cannabis industry doesn’t seem to be having trouble staying afloat amid the madness that’s affected almost 220,000 people worldwide. In fact, a “significant increase in sales beginning mid-last week” has been recorded, according to spokesperson for Alcoholic Beverage Control, Scott Hardin.

During the weekend of Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 15, more than $50 million worth of medical cannabis in Arkansas had been sold; based on a report by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. That amount was earned from 7,932 pounds of the plant being sold in state-licensed dispensaries.

An overview of recent medical cannabis sales in Arkansas: Through March 15, 2020

Legal medical cannabis in Arkansas became available to registered patients in mid-2019, following the passing of a voter-approved proposal in 2016. A total of 20 dispensaries are currently in operation statewide and an additional 13 are expected to open.

Since sales officially began on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, registered patients in Northwest Arkansas have purchased 2,521 pounds of medical cannabis from the state’s licensed dispensaries. Fort Smith, which sits on the Arkansas-Oklahoma state border, started selling medical cannabis inside a dispensary called “Fort Cannabis” on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019; patients have purchased 217 pounds of plant-based medicines there.

Let’s take a look at how much medical cannabis was sold by each dispensary:

• Suite 443 (Hot Springs) sold 401.89 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Friday, May 10
• Green Springs Medical (Hot Springs) sold 1,694.27 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Sunday, May 12
• Arkansas Natural Products (Clinton) sold 273.73 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Thursday, June 20
• Greenlight Dispensary (Helena) sold 288.60 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Thursday, June 27
• Native Green Wellness (Hensley) sold 726.61 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Tuesday, July 2
• Fiddler’s Green (Mountain View) sold 635.77 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Thursday, July 1
• Releaf Center (Bentonville) sold 827.05 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Wednesday, August 7
• The Source (Bentonville) sold 721.11 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Thursday, August 15
• Acanza (Fayetteville) sold 727.64 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Saturday, September 14
• Harvest (Conway) sold 607.60 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Friday, October 11
• Purspirit Cannabis (Fayetteville) sold 245.65 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Wednesday, November 20
• NEA Full Spectrum (Brookland) sold 260.56 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Monday, December 9
• 420 Dispensary (Russellville) sold 98.84 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Tuesday, December 17
• Fort Cannabis (Fort Smith) sold 217.14 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Wednesday, December 18
• Red River Remedy (Texarkana) sold 41.88 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Friday, January 10 (2020)
• Bloom Medicinals (Texarkana) sold 11.65 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Wednesday, January 15 (2020)
• Plant Family Therapeutics (Mountain Home) sold 104.37 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Monday, February 3 (2020)
• Harvest House of Cannabis (Little Rock) sold 33.18 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Friday, February 14 (2020)
• Herbology (Little Rock) sold 12.76 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Wednesday, February 26 (2020)
• Custom Cannabis (Alexander) sold 2.55 pounds of medical cannabis since opening on Thursday, March 5 (2020)

Arkansans are pushing for recreational cannabis legalization

Sales of medical cannabis in Arkansas could escalate further if advocates get their way. Supporters of cannabis reform in Arkansas are hoping that a measure to legalize cannabis consumption for individuals 21 years of age and above regardless of residency will be certified for the 2020 ballot.

A total of 89,151 valid signatures must be submitted by July 3, 2020 for the Arkansas Recreational Marijuana Amendment of 2020 to be considered.