LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Medical Marijuana commission has voted to give a consulting group the power to evaluate applications and award 32 dispensary licenses for medical pot.

By a vote of 3-2 Wednesday, the commission agreed that a consulting group, comprising a five-member panel, could review and score hundreds of dispensary applications.

Commissioner Travis Story strongly opposed the motion, arguing the commission itself had a constitutionally-granted responsibility to review and score the applications. But last week, Arkansas lawmakers passed an amendment granting the commissi...