River Valley Relief (RVR): Arkansas' Boutique Medical Cannabis Cultivator in Fort Smith

About River Valley Relief Cultivation Facility

River Valley Relief is a boutique cannabis cultivation facility located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, operating out of 25,000 square feet of canopy space—making it the smallest cultivator in the state's medical marijuana program. Founded by brothers Storm, Kane, and Josh, RVR launched operations in 2020 with a deeply personal mission: providing a safer alternative to prescription opioids and other potentially harmful medications after losing their mother to prescription opiate addiction.

The company's leadership structure took shape in 2019 when founders brought on two-time Cannabis Cup Winner Ryan Kenaga as a consultant. Recognizing his expertise and vision, RVR promoted Kenaga to VP of Extraction before elevating him to President in 2021. Under Kenaga's direction, River Valley Relief transformed from a slow start into one of Arkansas' most respected cultivators, known for consistently releasing high-quality products that become market favorites upon release.

River Valley Relief distributes its products through more than 30 dispensaries across Arkansas, ensuring patients statewide have access to their craft cannabis offerings. As a team composed primarily of Arkansas natives, RVR takes pride in serving fellow Arkansans with laboratory-tested, high-quality medical cannabis products. The company's product range spans from flower and extracts to concentrates and edibles, all designed to meet specific patient needs while maintaining the boutique quality standards that define the RVR brand.

River Valley Relief Brand Partnerships

Wana Edibles

River Valley Relief has partnered with Wana, one of the most recognized edibles brands in the United States. Wana has built a national reputation for consistent dosing, quality ingredients, and effective formulations across multiple cannabis markets. Through this partnership, RVR produces live rosin-infused Wana gummies, combining Wana's trusted edibles expertise with River Valley Relief's craft cultivation and extraction capabilities. This collaboration brings a nationally acclaimed brand to Arkansas patients while showcasing RVR's ability to produce premium live rosin extracts that meet Wana's exacting standards. The live rosin infusion method preserves more of the plant's natural terpenes and cannabinoids compared to traditional distillate-based edibles, offering patients a more full-spectrum experience in a precisely dosed, familiar edible format.

What makes River Valley Relief Unique in Arkansas’ Cannabis Industry

Boutique Scale, Craft Quality

River Valley Relief operates Arkansas' smallest cultivation facility at 25,000 square feet of canopy space. While competitors maintain facilities many times this size, RVR embraced their boutique scale as an advantage rather than a limitation. This smaller footprint allows for meticulous attention to each plant and product, resulting in what the company calls their "we-only-drop-bangers era"—a period where every product release becomes a market hit from the moment it launches.

Proprietary Arkansas Genetics

Unlike most cultivators who source genetics from Colorado, California, or other established cannabis markets, River Valley Relief grows strains with genuine Arkansas roots. President Ryan Kenaga has curated these proprietary genetics for over two decades, with some strains reportedly originating along the banks of the Buffalo River. Strains like Ryleigh's Reserve, Banjo, Ben's Buffalo, and the now-discontinued Lee Creek Kush represent cannabis genetics that are truly local to Arkansas, offering patients access to cultivars they won't find anywhere else in the state or country.

ArkanRAW: Arkansas' Best-Selling Cannabis Product

River Valley Relief produces ArkanRAW, a highly potent full-spectrum cannabis extract similar to Rick Simpson Oil (RSO). Created using whole plant extracts, ArkanRAW delivers a comprehensive profile of major and minor cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes. The product has become Arkansas' best-selling cannabis item, earning praise from patients, doctors, and dispensary staff for its therapeutic efficacy. Each batch is personally formulated by Ryan Kenaga using a proprietary process that remains closely guarded, though patients consistently report that ArkanRAW outperforms other full-spectrum extracts on the market. The product is dispensed via syringe for precise dosing, with a standard serving approximately the size of a single grain of rice.

Mission-Driven Approach to Opioid Alternatives

River Valley Relief's founding mission stems from personal tragedy—the loss of the founders' mother to prescription opiates. This experience drives the company's commitment to providing patients with safer alternatives to potentially addictive pharmaceuticals. RVR views medical marijuana not as recreational product but as a pathway to healing for individuals battling medical and mental health conditions. This mission-focused approach influences everything from product development to patient education, ensuring that River Valley Relief remains focused on therapeutic efficacy above all else.

Innovation in Product Development

River Valley Relief consistently introduces products that set new standards in Arkansas' cannabis market. Recent innovations include their soft chews, ghee butter for cooking and baking applications, live rosin-infused Wana gummies through their partnership with Wana Edibles, and all-glass live rosin disposable vapes. The company also offers unique edible options like caramels and freeze-dried strawberries, demonstrating their willingness to explore unconventional product formats that meet diverse patient preferences.

Expert Leadership and Collaborative Spirit

Under Ryan Kenaga's leadership, River Valley Relief has cultivated a reputation for both excellence and generosity within Arkansas' cannabis community. Kenaga's approachable leadership style and willingness to share cultivation knowledge with other industry professionals reflects his belief that the Arkansas cannabis market improves when cultivators work together. His two Cannabis Cup wins and decades of cannabis expertise provide RVR with cultivation knowledge that informs every aspect of their operation, from plant genetics to extraction methodology.