An extended-running dispute over certainly one of Arkansas’ medical marijuana cultivation permits is escalating after a second court docket discovered regulators improperly awarded one of many licenses.
At concern is the license awarded to Fort Smith, Arkansas-based River Valley Aid, certainly one of eight hashish cultivators licensed by the state.
On Dec. 30, a Pulaski County Circuit decide dominated that state regulators issued River Valley Aid and its principal, Bennett “Storm” Nolan, a allow regardless of the actual fact his utility was “fatally flawed.”
It’s the second ruling towards Nolan and River Valley following a 2022 determination that additionally discovered regulators acted improperly once they “unlawfully” awarded Nolan’s enterprise a allow.
The unique swimsuit was filed by 2600 Holdings, which does enterprise as Southern Roots Cultivation and unsuccessfully utilized for a medical marijuana cultivation allow throughout the identical licensing spherical as River Valley Aid.
Nolan plans to attraction the ruling from Circuit Decide Herb Wright, who oversaw the 2022 case and mentioned state regulators should take “all steps essential to treatment” the improperly awarded allow, in response to the Arkansas Occasions.
In a press release to 5News, Scott Hardin, a spokesperson for the state Division of Finance and Administration, mentioned it was “untimely to take a position” what may end result from the court docket ruling.
The state Medical Marijuana Fee is predicted to debate the court docket order and attainable subsequent steps at its Jan. 9 assembly, Hardin mentioned.
In a press release to the Occasions, Abtin Mehdizeagan, an legal professional for 2600 Holdings, mentioned he expects regulators to “act swiftly in revoking the unconstitutional license and we is not going to hesitate to hunt additional aid from the Courtroom in the event that they fail to heed this lawful order.”
