LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — State projections on the impact of two proposals to legalize medical marijuana say they will cost the state more than they earn in tax revenue.

Part of the argument for the medical marijuana proposals is that the programs will pay for themselves, but the reports from the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) are calling that into question

Proponents of the efforts question the numbers.

DFA sees both proposals leading to about $38 million in annual medical marijuana sales, which would, in turn, bring in about $2.5 million in sales tax revenue.

DFA argues the cost of implementing either the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act or the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment would leave state agencies with a year one deficit of up to $5.8 million.

Proponents of both medical marijuana efforts blasted the predictions.

David Couch, who backs the amendment, accused DFA of cherry picking comparison states with low tax revenues to make the  proposals look bad. Melissa Fults, who’s behind the act, points to 25 other states with medical marijuana she says run their programs without costing the state.

She says there no reason Arkansas wouldn’t do the same.