AR SB561

Amends Section 14 of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016 to clarify local regulation authority over dispensaries and cultivation facilities.

Allows cities, incorporated towns, and counties to enact reasonable zoning regulations for dispensaries and cultivation facilities that are equivalent to those applied to licensed retail pharmacies.

Permits local governments to regulate or prohibit dispensaries and cultivation facilities only through: election approval under Article 5 Section 1 of the state constitution, majority vote of city council or county quorum court, or special election referred to voters under Arkansas Code Section 7-11-201 et seq.

Declares an emergency because the Medical Marijuana Commission must begin issuing licenses on June 1, 2017, and local zoning regulations must take effect prior to license issuance.

Emergency provision makes the act effective upon gubernatorial approval, expiration of the governor's veto period, or override of a gubernatorial veto.