Medical marijuana sales in state reach 50,000 lbs.

LITTLE ROCK — Approximately two years after the state’s first dispensary opened for business, Arkansas’ medical marijuana market recently surpassed 50,000 pounds in overall sales. In total, Arkansans have spent $338.5 million to obtain 50,085 pounds of medical marijuana.

There are currently 33 dispensaries in operation throughout Arkansas with five that are working toward opening for business (38 dispensaries have been licensed). The five working toward opening are 3J Investments (Lamar), Natural Root Wellness (Fayetteville), Pine Bluff Agriceuticals (Pine Bluff, approved to open by ABC, will open this month), Missco Cannabis (Jonesboro) and Natures Herbs and Wellness (Pine Bluff).

The Arkansas Department of Health reports 77,673 active patient cards.

Total medical marijuana sales through June 14:

• Since Suite 443 (Hot Springs) first opened on Friday, May 10, 2019, the company sold 3,311.22 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Green Springs Medical (Hot Springs) first opened on Sunday, May 12, 2019, the company sold 4,238.69 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Arkansas Natural Products (Clinton) first opened on Thursday, June 20, 2019, the company sold 1,025.83 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Greenlight Dispensary (Helena) first opened on Thursday, June 27, 2019, the company sold 617.00 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Native Green Hensley (Hensley) first opened on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, the company sold 2,164.12 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Fiddler’s Green (Mountain View) first opened on Thursday, July 11, 2019, the company sold 2,286.86 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since the Releaf Center (Bentonville) first opened on Wednesday, August 7, 2019, the company sold 5,374.92 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since The Source (Bentonville) first opened on Thursday, August 15, 2019, the company sold 2,882.54 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Acanza (Fayetteville) first opened on Saturday, September 14, 2019, the company sold 3,272.23 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Harvest (Conway) first opened on Friday, October 11, 2019, the company sold 3,009.68 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Purspirit Cannabis (Fayetteville) opened on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, the company sold 2,615.34 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since NEA Full Spectrum (Brookland) opened on Monday, December 9, 2019, the company sold 2,657.50 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since 420 Dispensary (Russellville) opened on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, the company sold 919.60 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Fort Cannabis (Fort Smith) opened on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, the company sold 2,208.09 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Red River Remedy (Texarkana) opened on Friday, January 10, 2020, the company sold 817.97 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Bloom Medicinals (Texarkana) opened on Wednesday, January 15, 2020, the company sold 304.53 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Plant Family Therapeutics (Mountain Home) opened on Monday, February 3, 2020, the company sold 2,746.62 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Capital City Medicinals (Little Rock) opened on Friday, February 14, 2020, the company sold 604.25 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Herbology (Little Rock) opened on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, the company sold 660.28 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Custom Cannabis (Alexander) opened on Thursday, March 5, 2020, the company sold 922.63 pounds of medical marijuana.

Continued on Page 11 STATE NEWS (cont.)

• Since Natural Relief Dispensary (Sherwood) opened on March 17, 2020, the company sold 3,475.65 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Body and Mind Dispensary (formerly Comprehensive Care Group) opened on April 27, 2020, the company sold 326.00 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Delta Cannabis (West Memphis) opened on July 1, 2020, the company sold 851.76 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Arkansas Patient Services Company (Monticello) opened on July 4, 2020, the company sold 244.71 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Enlightened Cannabis for People, Arkadelphia opened on July 16, 2020, the company sold 190.99 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Enlightened Cannabis for People, Heber Springs opened on July 17, 2020, the company sold 334.59 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Enlightened Cannabis for People, Morrilton opened on August 3, 2020, the company sold 295.18 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Enlightened Cannabis for People, Clarksville opened on August 7, 2020, the company sold 247.49 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since THF Investors Dispensary (West Memphis) opened on August 26, 2020, the company

sold 144.93 pounds of

medical marijuana.

• Since High Bank Cannabis (Pine Bluff) opened on October 9, 2020, the company sold 708.66 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Zen Leaf (El Dorado) opened on October 22, 2020, the company

sold 258.79 pounds of

medical marijuana.

• Since Spring River Dispensary (Hardy) opened on January 7, 2021, the company sold 276.29 pounds of medical marijuana.

• Since Native Green Little Rock (Little Rock) opened on May, 6, 2021, the company sold 90.40 pounds of medical marijuana.

Combined, this is more than 50,085 pounds and $338 million in total sales.

LITTLE ROCK — Shortly after the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved a new version of a device used for deep brain stimulation, doctors at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) became one of the first 12 sites in the country and the first in Arkansas to use it.

Deep brain stimulation is a therapy in which a small pacemaker-like device sends electrical signals through very thin wires, known as leads, to a targeted area in the brain to help control symptoms of certain neurological disorders such as essential tremor, primary dystonia, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The SenSight Direction Lead System allows surgeons to more precisely direct the stimulation delivered by the device while, for the first time, simulta-

Continued on Page 14 STATE NEWS (cont.)

neously recording brain changes as they occur, minimizing side effects that require adjustments later by a neurologist. The system allows the adjustments to be made wirelessly, and by recording brain activity, helps doctors understand brain circuitry disorders.

This is an important step in learning more about the constant brain changes occurring in these conditions

treatments.

Previously, sensing capability and directional leads weren’t available in the same DBS system, forcing doctors to choose one technology

on the needs of each patient.

“The patient won’t feel anything different than in the previous procedure, but now, the post-operative programming sessions will be much quicker and more effective with fewer side effects, all while revealing a lot of helpful brain changes happening in real time,” said Mitesh Lotia, M.D., an assistant professor of neurology in the UAMS College of Medicine. Lotia said the newly approved version also has an expanded battery life that lasts six years or longer instead of three to five years.

Lotia collaborated with Erika Petersen, M.D., a professor of neurosurgery at UAMS, who on June 7 threaded the long, skinny leads deep into a patient’s brain through dime-sized holes in the skull and positioned them to deliver electrical impulses into the center of the brain, all while the patient remained awake and talking.

Petersen tested the patient’s indecipherable handwriting just before the surgery and then again during the surgery, when her tremors had subsided, instantly allowing her to smoothly and clearly write her name and some numbers. The surgery also improved the patient’s inability to use a fork or a spoon as a result of the tremors.

“Deliberate choices related to materials and design were made to enhance comfort for patients, allow for more precise stimulation and streamline the surgical procedure, all while being able to capture objective data for more efficient, informed programming,” said Medtronic, the Dublin, Ireland-based medical technology company that