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NWA's first medical marijuana dispensary opens today Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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TODAY TO BUY THEIR MEDICAL MARIJUANA. THIS PLACE HAS BEEN PACKED SINCE ABOUT 7:30 THIS MORNING. PEOPLE TOLD ME THEY ARE WILLING TO WAIT A FEW HOURS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY FOR YEARS. Carol Schilling - "As everybody can tell, I'm pretty old so I've been waiting for a really long time for this to be my medicine." EARLY THIS MORNING THE LINE AT RELEAF CENTER STRETCHED ALL THE WAY INTO THE PARKING LOT. Robert Smith - "It's pretty nuts I expected a lot but I didn't expect this it was actually shocking when I pulled in. It's pretty crazy." CUSTOMERS HAD TO SIGN IN AND REGISTER WITH RELEAF CENTER BEFORE GETTING A NUMBER, JUST LIKE WAITING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES. Carlie Barker - "It's been a long wait but for most of us it's been a long wait and I've been suffering for a long time waiting on this." THE OTHER DISPENSARY IN BENTONVILLE, STILL ISN'T OPEN. THE OWNER SAYS HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE HIS TRACKING SOFTWARE IS FULLY FUNCTIONAL BEFORE OPENING ARKANSAS MEDICINAL SOURCE PATIENT CENTER. HE SAYS THE STATE WILL BE BACK FOR AN INSPECTION ON MONDAY. IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD FOR SOME AND THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA THEY'RE BUYING TODAY ISN'T CHEAP, BUT THEY'RE GLAD RELIEF IS FINALLY HERE. Robert Smith - "That's the sad thing, in a certain way, yes it's here, yes it's available, yes we can get the medication we're looking for, but it comes with a price. But with that we've got to do what we've got to do. It's either that or break the law. And I'm glad I won't have to do that anymore." I'VE BEEN HERE ALL DAY AND THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WAITING AND A FEW HAVE BEEN TURNED AWAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THE PROPER IDENTIFICATION WITH THEM. COMING UP AT SIX I'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO HAVE WITH YOU BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT TO BUY MEDICAL MARIJUANA. LIVE IN BENTONVILLE, EMMA CLAYBROOK, 40/29 NEWS.s "I'm looking to do backgro