Back in January, Arkansas issued cannabis businesses with its initial six licenses to sell medical pot statewide. Now, two-and-a-half years since voters legalized the plant for medical purposes, the product has been made available to customers.

Arkansas’ official lawmakers have finally given Doctor’s Orders RX dispensary in Hot Springs a nod of approval from the state to commence business operations, making it the first dispensary in the state to open its doors. This is according to a statement released by spokesman for the Department of Finance and Administration, Scott Hardin, after a satisfactory inspection was conducted by regulatory agency the Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Then there’s Green Springs Medical in Hot Springs, which became the second medical cannabis dispensary in Arkansas to receive a license to sell cannabis. The state Department of Finance and Administration made the announcement on Friday, May 10.

Will Arkansas’ licensed medical cannabis dispensaries be capable of meeting demand?

As the first dispensaries to open their doors in what has also been nicknamed “the Natural State” for its stunning landscapes, it’s not surprising that some people were concerned about a potential lack of supply for registered patients. Regardless, based on data submitted to state regulators, both dispensaries sold 13.76 pounds of weed combined by 1:00 p.m. on Monday, May 13.

Cannabis grower BOLD Team recently completed its first 200-pound harvest. With two other growers believed to be harvesting more cannabis for Arkansas’ medical cannabis industry by this summer, there shouldn’t be a lack of plants to satisfy every patient’s needs.

Then again, the deployment of Arkansas’ medical cannabis industry has been significantly more sluggish than in nearby states, such as Oklahoma.

Arkansas’ legal medical cannabis industry has had a slow rollout

Back in 2016, a constitutional amendment legalizing medical cannabis was approved by voters. Despite of the fact that it has been legal for patients to use medicinal-grade weed in Arkansas since 2016, the implementation of the state’s medical cannabis law was postponed following a 91-0 vote by the Arkansas House of Representatives in January 2017.

In February of this year, the names of 32 cannabis companies that have received licensing to sell the plant in its medical form were revealed by an Arkansas panel. They included Johnson County Dispensary (Clarksville), Big Fish of Central Arkansas (Heber Springs) and Natural State Wellness Dispensary (Little Rock). Each licensed medical cannabis company in Arkansas is required to pay a $15,000 licensing fee, as well as a $100,000 performance bond prior to the issuing of licenses.

Currently, the number of Arkansans who have gained licensing to obtain medical cannabis inside the state’s licensed stores and dispensaries rests at 10,500. The product is grown inside five grow facilities spread across the state. You can view the names of the 32 companies by clicking here.