During a recent panel discussion at the Arkansas Times Cannabis and Wellness Expo, Chip Leibovich, an attorney with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division (ABC), emphasized the importance of safety for both employees and patients in the state’s medical marijuana sector. He urged cannabis businesses to prioritize safety over fears of regulatory violations.
Leibovich recounted an incident where a dispensary employee inquired about allowing patients to seek shelter in the dispensary’s vault during a tornado, which is usually a restricted area. He responded affirmatively, stating, “Yes. Absolutely. Don’t make people die because you’re afraid of getting a violation for letting them in a very limited-access area.”
This advice comes in light of two significant incidents that affected Arkansas medical marijuana facilities in the past couple of years. In January 2022, a fire broke out at a BOLD Team cultivation center in Cotton Plant. Senior Director of Operations Annie Iselin shared that she had to relocate the vault’s contents to ensure their safety during the emergency. Similarly, a tornado struck The Source dispensary in Rogers approximately a year ago, causing a power outage that lasted five days. Iselin noted that this disruption could have resulted in the facility exceeding legal limits on flowering plants if the lighting system had been altered due to the power loss.
In both instances, the ABC confirmed that no penalties were issued to either BOLD or The Source despite the challenges they faced. Scott Hardin, a spokesperson for the ABC, reiterated this during the panel discussion, emphasizing that the agency aims to support the industry rather than impose strict penalties during emergencies.
Leibovich and ABC Director Christy Bjornson highlighted their commitment to collaborating with cannabis businesses to ensure compliance while prioritizing safety. During the discussion, Iselin humorously remarked that the presence of enforcement agents, who often wear body cameras, felt similar to being on stage with police officers. Bjornson clarified that body cameras are standard ABC policy designed to protect both agents and the facilities they visit. This ensures accountability and transparency in interactions between regulators and cannabis businesses.
Prior to the panel, Bill Paschall, Executive Director of the Arkansas Cannabis Industry Association, provided an update on the organization’s legislative efforts. He encouraged industry members to contribute to their political action committee, GROW PAC, which allocated $12,250 to various state legislators from both parties in the past year. Paschall pointed out that such contributions have helped build allies in the state legislature.
The discussion was part of Industry Day at the expo, which will continue over the weekend with events open to all attendees, regardless of whether they hold a medical marijuana card.
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