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EXCLUSIVE: Inside look at Bentonville Medical Marijuana Dispensary Plans Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS EXPECTED TO BECOME AVAILABLE FOR PATEINTS TO BUY IN JUST THREE WEEKS. TWO DISPENSARIES IN HOT SPRINGS WILL BEGIN SELLING PRODUCTS LIKE THESE TO PATIENTS ON MAY 12, BUT IT COULD BE ANOTHER 2 OR THREE MONTHS BEFORE THIS DISPENSARY IN BENTONVILLE IS UP AND RUNNING. TONIGHT WE'RE TAKING AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT THE PLANS FOR THE RELEAF CENTER IN BENTONVILLE. NATS WITH HAMMERS SWINGING, THE BIG RED GALLERY ON MCNELLY ROAD WILL SOON BE TRANSFORMED INTO THIS STATE OF THE ART DISPENSARY. "We really want to establish with our approach of what we're going to do here. It's not just about coming in to get medical marijuana. It's about understanding what you're suffering from and how this may be a better option and alternative method to provide some relief for you." THE RELEAF CENTER IS ONE OF FOUR MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES APPROVED FOR BUSINESS IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. THEY PLAN TO OPEN THEIR DOORS IN MID JUNE. "To make sure we have product secured, knowing that BOLD is going to have their first harvest in the next week or so, we're looking to finalize our purchase order to have our inventory ready." ARKANSAS LAW ALLOWS DISPENSARIES TO GROW UP TO 200 PLANTS - 50 FLOWERS AND 150 IMMATURE BUDS. THE RELEAF CENTER WILL HAVE A GREENHOUSE ON SITE. WHILE MANY IN THE AREA ARE WAITING FOR THE CHANCE TO BUY MEDICAL MARIJUANA, SHANSKY SAYS MORE HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY. "We had 250 applications submitted for that one position, like one position. To the point where like we had to close the portal because it was just unbelievable." BUTTED "like just the amount of support we're getting at this point, clearly there are a lot of people that want to be apart of this and that's exciting." IT'S BEEN MORE THAN TWO YEARS SINCE VOTERS APPROVED MEDICAL MARIJUANA. THEY VOTED YES - IN NOVEMBER OF 2016. THE FIRST PRODUCT BEGAN GROWING IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR... ONE OF THE FIVE CULTIVATION CENTERS IS IN OUR AREA - IN CARROLL COUNTY. PATIENTS WHO WERE APPROVED FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE GOT THEIR "ID CARDS" IN FEBRUARY... THAT WILL LET THEM PURCHASE THE PRODUCT - WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. ACROSS THE BORDER IN OKLAHOMA - VOTERS APPROVED MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE SUMMER OF 2018. IT BECAME AVAILABLE JUST MONTHS LATER. SINCE THEN - TAX OFFICIALS HAVE SAID SALES IN THE STATE HAVE TOPPED 12 MILLION DOLLARS.