LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Some Arkansans hoping to use medical marijuana pleaded with the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission to approve dispensaries so the drug will be available.

State voters approved marijuana use for certain medical conditions nearly two years ago, but no businesses have yet been approved to dispense the drug.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Lorna Knox of Cabot asked commissioners to "please make opening the dispensaries a priority," during a more than hour long public meeting in Little Rock on Friday.

"Please expedite this process," added Gerrit Gorter of Little Rock.

Both Knox and Gorter said they suffer illnesses that marijuana will treat.

Commissioners did not comment during the meeting, but state Department of Finance and Administration spokesman Scott Hardin said he expects marijuana to be available to patients during the first three months of 2019.

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Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com