How to Get an Arkansas Medical Marijuana Card

Arkansas medical marijuana patients must be registered with the Arkansas Department of Health and obtain certification from an Arkansas-licensed physician. The state’s medical program was established when voters approved Amendment 98 in 2016. It does not authorize patients or caregivers to grow cannabis at home, and Arkansas does not have a general adult-use marijuana program under the medical-marijuana amendment.

Who Can Qualify?

Applicants must have a qualifying medical condition and receive an official Physician Written Certification from an Arkansas-licensed medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy. The physician must have a bona fide physician-patient relationship with the applicant and be authorized to prescribe controlled substances in Arkansas.

The state recognizes conditions including:

• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis C
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Severe arthritis and fibromyalgia
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Intractable pain that has not responded to ordinary treatment for more than six months
• Severe nausea
• Seizures, including those associated with epilepsy
• Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those associated with multiple sclerosis

Having a listed condition does not automatically qualify someone for a card. The physician must complete the state certification form, and the applicant must submit it with the registry application.

How to Apply for a Patient Card

Arkansas residents generally need to provide:

• A completed medical-marijuana registry application
• An Arkansas driver’s license or state identification card
• A Physician Written Certification completed on the Arkansas Department of Health form
• The nonrefundable $50 application fee

Applications can be submitted through the Arkansas Department of Health’s online application system. The department says applications may take up to 14 days to process after it receives the application and payment. Applicants with approved online applications can print a copy of their registry card, and a physical card is mailed separately.

The physician certification is valid for 30 days from the date it is signed. Patients should submit their application before that period expires. A registry card is valid for up to one year, although a physician may authorize a shorter period. Renewals may be submitted up to 60 days before the card’s expiration date and require a new physician certification.

Possession, Purchasing, and Home Cultivation

A registered patient may purchase up to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana during a 14-day period. Purchases must be made through a licensed Arkansas medical-marijuana dispensary, and products should remain in their dispensary packaging.

Arkansas does not allow qualifying patients or designated caregivers to cultivate medical marijuana at home. The state’s rules authorize cultivation by licensed commercial facilities, not by patients or caregivers. The previous article’s reference to a hardship cultivation certificate should not be relied on as a current option.

Medical marijuana use is restricted in places such as schools, correctional facilities, motor vehicles, public places where the user could reasonably be observed, health care facilities, and locations where smoking is prohibited. Patients should also review their employer’s policies and avoid driving under the influence of cannabis.

Designated Caregivers

A designated caregiver may obtain, possess, transport, dispense, and assist with administering medical marijuana for an eligible patient. Caregivers may not consume marijuana purchased for the patient.

According to the Arkansas Department of Health’s caregiver requirements, a caregiver generally must:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Be an Arkansas resident with an Arkansas driver’s license or state identification card
• Assist a minor or a patient whose physician has documented a physical disability
• Have a patient with a current Arkansas medical-marijuana card
• Complete the required criminal background check and have no disqualifying felony conviction

Parents or legal guardians who register as caregivers for their own minor children do not have to complete the criminal-history check, but they must still register and pay the caregiver application fee. Each caregiver must apply separately for each patient. The Department of Health’s current application materials should be checked for the applicable background-check and processing charges before submitting an application.

Patients under 18 cannot purchase medical marijuana directly from a dispensary. A parent, guardian, or legal custodian must register as the child’s caregiver and control the acquisition, dosage, and frequency of use.

Visiting Patients From Other States

Arkansas allows qualifying out-of-state medical-marijuana patients to apply for a visiting-patient card. Applicants must hold a medical-marijuana card or equivalent authorization from another state, and the condition covered by that authorization must also be recognized as a qualifying condition in Arkansas.

The visiting-patient application fee is $50 and is nonrefundable. The Department of Health says applications may take up to 14 days to process. If approved, the visiting-patient card permits purchases in Arkansas for 90 days. Visitors should apply well before traveling and print the approved card before visiting a dispensary.

Buying Medical Marijuana in Arkansas

Arkansas dispensaries may offer products such as flower, tinctures, edibles, concentrates, vaporizer products, and other approved forms. Product availability varies by dispensary, and patients should confirm current inventory, purchase limits, identification requirements, and hours directly with the dispensary.

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission oversees licensing and regulation of dispensaries and cultivation facilities. The Department of Health, rather than the commission, handles patient and caregiver registry cards.

For the most reliable application instructions, fees, qualifying-condition information, and visitor requirements, patients should consult the department’s medical-marijuana FAQ before applying. State rules and application systems can change, so current information from Arkansas officials should take precedence over older third-party guides.