State can’t handle medical marijuana applications

Arkansas to outsource evaluation of medical marijuana applications’

Five-member commission votes to appoint five-member commission to approve or disapprove applications.

“Commissioner Travis Story strongly opposed the motion, arguing the agency had a constitutionally granted responsibility to review and score the applications.

“But last week, Arkansas lawmakers passed an amendment granting the commission the authority to hire a consultant. The commission ultimately voted in favor of hiring an outside party, largely citing the speed with which dedicated consultants could review the volume of the applications.”

…

“In the adopted selection process, the lowest bidder will automatically be hired.”

https://mjbizdaily.com/arkansas-to-outsource-evaluation-of-medical-marijuana-applications/

Or, We want this done fast and we want it done cheap.

The medical marijuana process is yet another example of Arkansas government not being able to handle things voters approve. A few years ago, the legislature approved a lottery ballot vote, but had nothing in place to handle the lottery when voters approved the measure. The legislature wound up hiring an out-of-state lottery group to set up what the state was incapable of doing.