WARD, Ark. – Across Arkansas, medical marijuana dispensaries are getting closer to selling the product. One area looking to profit is how having to cope, after missing out.

Plans were in place to open a dispensary in Ward, a small Lonoke County town. But, after a real estate deal went south, the company instead decided to open in Little Rock.

In his office, Ward mayor Charles Gastineau is hard at work. He says plans for a medical marijuana dispensary moving to his city recently went up in smoke.

“I feel sorry for the patients that have to come forward, I really do,” Gastineau said.

He says he found out when the dispensaries license were issued the company “Grassroots” wanted to move into a vacant building within ward city limits.

“We were pleasantly surprised that it was coming here and we were looking forward to it,” Gastineau said.

He says the city was excited about breaking into the budding industry, but after a bad real estate deal, he says, the company found a new location in Little Rock.

“We’re a small town still and we need a tax base. We need businesses coming to town. We are a great little city and we were looking forward to this.”

Others who live in Ward, like David Nichols, are also sad to see the opportunity go.

“It could bring up business and it could help a lot of people,” David said.

David doesn’t have his medical marijuana license yet, but had plans to explore getting it. He says, if he does, he’ll have to drive out of town rather than down the street.

“It would be real easy and purchase what I needed and they give me what I need for my disability issues,” he explains.

Gastineau says he may be discouraged about the decision, but not down. He’s hoping another opportunity may light up soon.

“Should another licensing sector come up, maybe we can be successful that time.”