3:40 P.M. UPDATE:
LITTLE ROCK — An Arkansas judge says he'll issue a decision within the next five days on whether to allow the state to issue its first licenses for companies to grow medical marijuana.
Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen did not immediately rule Friday on an unsuccessful applicant's request to prevent from the state from granting licenses to five companies. The state's Medical Marijuana Commission had planned to issue the licenses Wednesday but Griffen issued a temporary restraining order.
Griffen heard testimony Friday from officials at Naturalis Health, LLC, which unsuccessfully applied for a license. Naturalis wants an independent evaluator to rank the 95 license applications.
The judge also heard from the head of the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Administration and an attorney for the state Department of Finance and Administration.
Voters approved medical marijuana in 2016.
Read Saturday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
— The Associated Press
1:30 P.M. UPDATE:
LITTLE ROCK — An Arkansas judge who blocked the state from issuing its first licenses to grow medical marijuana has rejected an effort to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the state's application process for cultivation facilities.
Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen on Friday rejected the state's argument that Naturalis Health LLC, a company that unsuccessfully applied for a license, didn't have standing. Griffen also rejected the state's argument that it is immune from the lawsuit.
Griffen is holding a hearing on whether to issue a preliminary injunction further preventing the state from awarding licenses. He issued a temporary restraining order against the state on Wednesday — shortly before state regulators planned to issue five licenses.
The company is asking that all 95 license applications be submitted to an independent evaluator.
— The Associated Press
EARLIER:
The owner of a company not picked to grow medical marijuana testified in Pulaski County court Friday, accusing a state commission of mishandling its review process.
Attorneys for Naturalis Health LLC and the state appeared that morning as part of an injunction hearing before Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen.
Patrick Murphy, Naturalis Health’s owner, accused the Medical Marijuana Commission of scoring its 95 applicants unfairly and of having conflicts of interest related to some commissioners and applying firms.
Around noon, court went into recess for a lunch break. The hearing was set to resume around 1:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, Griffen granted an applicant’s request for a temporary restraining order, effectively halting the issuance of Arkansas’ first medical marijuana growing permits.
— Brandon Riddle