Garland County cultivator Leafology hits the market, more products on the way

“We actually are just now starting to gain a little bit of traction,” he said. “We’re moving a lot more product.”

Leafology is operating out of a newly-built 70,000 square-foot facility that includes a 50,000 square-foot greenhouse that McCord said is “state-of-the-art.” The greenhouse is able to bring in or seal out the outside air depending on the conditions. When air comes in, it passes through a wet wall that cools the air but adds humidity, so each of the 10 grow rooms has three dehumidifiers to regulate the humidity. Summers with high temperatures and high humidity are more difficult to manage than cool, dry winter months, McCord said. 

McCord is also able to move the walls, open and close the roof and control the light by computer. 

“You would not believe what it does,” McCord said of the computer system he uses to control the facility. “I’ve been here for years and I’m still learning what it does. It pretty much does everything once you get it dialed in.” 

McCord said he understands that Leafology, which received its cultivation license in mid-2020, is the “new kid of the block” among Arkansas cultivators. The first five cultivators were licensed in 2018 and dispensaries began selling product the following year. Since then, two more cultivators have hit the market.

It’s been a long journey for Leafology to get up and running after slowdowns and supply chain issues due to Covid caused a nine-month construction project to last more than three years, McCord said. 

The company also changed its name earlier this year from New Day Cultivation to Leafology. McCord said he changed the name because the Leafology name was better for branding purposes. 

McCord said his facility began growing 16 strains but, because of the “tricky” Arkansas weather, he’s not sure all 16 strains are going to make it. Some strains that had grown well in other states, such as Michigan, have not grown as well here, he said. 

McCord also said Leafology is growing hydroponically with a “fully automated sea of green” and reclaims and reuses the water. 

While McCord said he will continue narrowing down the plants that grow best in the Arkansas climate, he is looking forward to a smooth transition into making other products. 

“We really hope on the laboratory side that we can hit the ground running a little better,” he said. 

McCord said he expects Leafology to produce many products that are already on the Arkansas market plus some that are not. Future products include concentrates, diamonds, shatters, butters, hash, edibles, gummies, chocolates, vape cartridges and live resin. 

Leafology is owned by Carla McCord (70%), Nick Landers (20%), Charles Singleton (5%) and Sherman Tate (5%), according to state Medical Marijuana Commission spokesman Scott Hardin. 

Marijuana cultivation is one of many business ventures for the McCord family. The McCords also have ownership interests in Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant as well as marinas and boat rental businesses in Hot Springs. The McCords also have an interest in an assisted living facility in Russellville and have been involved in a sawmill business and a software company, which they sold about 10 years ago. 

As for the marijuana business, McCord feels very encouraged. 

“We just started making sales,” McCord said. “Our snowball just started rolling down the hill and it’s getting bigger and bigger everyday.”