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Updated on June 15, 2020. Medical content reviewed by Dr. Joseph Rosado, MD, M.B.A, Chief Medical Officer
Patients in Arkansas diagnosed with one or more of the following “debilitating medical conditions”, are afforded legal protection under the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment:
and any other medical condition or its treatment approved by the Department of Health
1. Patients must be at least 18 years of age.
2. Patients must be a legal Arkansas Resident with a valid Arkansas I.D. as proof of residency. If you do not have an Arkansas I.D. an out of state I.D., passport, or other photo I.D. with proof of residency such as bank statement, utility bill, etc. is acceptable.
3. Patients must obtain legitimate medical records or documentation from your primary care physician describing their diagnosis and bring these records with you to your marijuana evaluation appointment – *Learn how to request your medical records
4. The qualifying patient must have been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition – *Find a certified medical marijuana physician in Arkansas
5. All patients will be required to register with the Department of Health, details will be provided once the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Program has been fully implemented by the DOH.
6. * Please note: It will take several months for the DOH to prepare the AMMP for operation, however, patients may begin the process by establishing a bonafide doctor-patient relationship with a licensed marijuana doctor now, in efforts to allow patients early access to the medicine once it becomes available.
Arkansas Department of Health
*4815 W. Markham St., Slot 50
Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: 1-833-214-8619
Email: adh.medicalmarijuana@arkansas.gov, adhquestions@arkansas.gov
Website: Arkansas Medical Marijuana Program
Some medical marijuana patients will claim they have a doctor’s prescription for medical marijuana, but marijuana prescriptions are in fact illegal. The federal government classifies marijuana as a schedule I drug. Therefore doctors are unable to prescribe marijuana to their patients, and medical marijuana patients cannot go to a pharmacy to fill a prescription for medical marijuana. Instead, medical marijuana physicians will supply patients with a medical marijuana recommendation in compliance with state law.
Arkansas possession regulations allow patients to possess no more than 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana in a 14-day period.
While Arkansas is more progressive than most Southern states in allowing the possession of weed for medical purposes, advocates were discouraged in April 2017 due to the passing of a bill that would implement further taxes on medical cannabis, impacting Arkansas medical marijuana qualifications. Supporters of the bill said the additional money would be needed in order to implement the medical marijuana program, while critics argued it would only serve to make it more costly for patients to access cannabis.
It is estimated the bill, which would impose an additional tax of 4 percent, would raise the total amount of taxes levied on medical cannabis to 25 percent for patients. The bill was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2017, the same day the state will start to accept applications from companies wanting to establish both dispensaries as well as cultivation facilities.
Another development that concerned medical marijuana qualifications in Arkansas concerned the process for awarding licenses to cannabis-related businesses. In November 2016, voters approved the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment, which not only legalized medical weed but also allowed for the opening of as many as eight cultivation facilities as well as up to 40 dispensaries.
Many critics of the rules note dispensary applicants have to enter a lottery in order to present their business plans to the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. In addition, critics are concerned dispensary applicants who wish to also cultivate plants must pay a $25,000 fee. Dispensaries that do not cultivate weed must only pay a $2,500 fee.
As a result, critics say access to cannabis would be limited. They believe the fee would make it hard for patients suffering from certain conditions to purchase specific strains they may need in order to alleviate their symptoms.
Go to our section on obtaining a medical marijuana card in Arkansas for more information on how to access medicinal cannabis in the state.
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