Little Rock marijuana processor Dark Horse Medicinals is set to expand into Missouri this month, with plans to initiate operations in Mississippi later this year.
Located in a West Little Rock office park, Dark Horse Mediсinals processes cannabis from Arkansas cultivators and dispensaries into a range of products, including chocolates, gummies, and vape cartridges. These products are available on the shelves of Arkansas dispensaries under both the Dark Horse name and the names of other state producers.
Missouri Operations
In Missouri, Dark Horse will replicate its processing services and intends to produce goods for three national brands across Arkansas, Missouri, and Mississippi, as noted by CEO and co-founder Casey Flippo.
“Within the next month, the forecast and the nature of our business is set to be on a pretty dramatic uptrend,” Flippo stated.
Dark Horse is acquiring an existing cannabis company in the Columbia area, which includes a 12,000 square-foot manufacturing and processing facility. This acquisition allows the company to start operations immediately, avoiding the lengthy processes associated with building a new facility.
Flippo did not disclose the name of the Missouri company involved in the acquisition, but mentioned that the new operation will employ 22 individuals, mirroring the workforce in Little Rock.
Missouri’s legalization of recreational marijuana occurred via ballot in November, and its recreational sales commenced last month. The Missouri business being acquired reportedly tripled its revenue within the first month of recreational sales.
Future in Mississippi
In Mississippi, Dark Horse is in the process of applying for a processing license, with expectations to begin operations around September of this year. While a specific location has yet to be finalized, the company is likely to target the Jackson area, drawing parallels to its centrally located operations in Little Rock and Columbia.
Initially in Mississippi, Dark Horse will focus on producing products associated solely with the three national brands it plans to collaborate with. The state’s medical marijuana program, having started last year, currently has approximately 4,000 enrolled patients, leading Flippo to conclude that significant capital investment in the region is not warranted at this time.
