Arkansas

A Legal Medical Cannabis Patient in Arkansas…

1. Is an Arkansas resident with a valid Arkansas driver’s license or state ID.

2. Is 18 years of age or older, or is a minor patient with a parent or guardian who applies as a caregiver.

3. Has a qualifying medical condition, which includes:

• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• Hepatitis C
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Crohn's disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Severe arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Intractable pain, which is pain that has not responded to ordinary medications, treatment or surgical measures for more than six (6) months
• Severe nausea
• Seizures, including, without limitation, those characteristic of epilepsy
• Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including, without limitation, those characteristic of multiple sclerosis

4. Has an official Physician Written Certification form completed by a qualifying medical provider.

5. Is enrolled in the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Program and holds a valid registry identification card.

Enrollment Process

Step 1: Visit a qualifying medical provider

The medical provider must be:

• A Doctor of Medicine or osteopathy licensed in the state of Arkansas
• In possession of a controlled substances license on file with the DEA
• In good standing to practice medicine in Arkansas
• In a bona fide physician-patient relationship with the patient being certified

Step 2: Gather your required documents

• Completed patient registry application form
• Official Physician Written Certification form (on the ADH-approved form only, letters or other certifications are not accepted)
• Photocopy of the front of your Arkansas driver’s license or state ID (on a full sheet of paper)
• Non-refundable application fee

Step 3: Submit your application

You may apply online or submit a paper application. The physician’s signature date marks the start of a 30-day window to submit your application.

For full instructions and forms, visit the Arkansas Department of Health Medical Cannabis Program. See the Arkansas Medical Cannabis FAQ for additional guidance.

The application must be submitted within 30 days of the physician’s signature date.

Patient Renewal

The same documents are required for renewals as for new applications, including a new Physician Written Certification. Your previous certification cannot be used. Processing time is up to 14 days after the application and payment are received.

Note: Initial certification requires an in-person visit. Recertification (renewal) may be completed via telehealth in compliance with Arkansas Medical Board rules.

Telehealth for recertification (renewal) was authorized by Act 1112 of 2021. Initial certifications require in-person visits.

Enrolling Minor Patients

To qualify, a patient must be diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition and have a Physician Written Certification. Patients under 18 cannot purchase medical cannabis from a dispensary. The legal guardian or parent is required to register as a caregiver to purchase medical cannabis on the minor’s behalf.

Download the Patient Application Package from the Arkansas Department of Health.

Caregivers must be at least 21 years of age to purchase and transport medical cannabis. A patient may have more than one caregiver. Each caregiver must apply separately and pay the non-refundable application processing fees. Each caregiver must also complete a criminal background check.

Dispensaries

After your enrollment is approved, you can access your registry account and pick up medical cannabis at your nearest licensed medical cannabis dispensary.

What to Bring

• Your valid Arkansas medical cannabis registry identification card
• Government-issued photo ID
• A list of your current medications (recommended for your first visit)
• Payment for your medicine. Insurance does not cover the cost of medical cannabis

Home Cultivation

Arkansas does not allow home cultivation of cannabis. Qualifying registered patients and their designated caregivers cannot grow or cultivate medical cannabis. All medical cannabis must be purchased through licensed Arkansas medical cannabis dispensaries.

Need tips on home cultivation?

Possession Limits

Under Arkansas law, registered patients may possess and purchase up to 2.5 ounces of medical cannabis from a dispensary in a 14-day period. Each individual purchase counts against the patient’s balance for 14 days. Patients can check their real-time balance by logging in to their online account.

Cannabis Product Safety:

Cannabis, in its natural form, is inherently safe for most patients, but it is especially susceptible to contaminants during cultivation, manufacturing, handling & even storing. Whether you are purchasing cannabis from regulated, grey, or illicit markets or cultivating your own cannabis, you should be aware of the contaminants commonly found in cannabis and the symptoms that accompany their presence.

Products sold in Arkansas dispensaries and adult-use retail locations must be tested for contaminants, pesticides, and adulterants based on these thresholds set by state regulators.  For more information about cannabis safety, download ASA's "What’s in Your Cannabis? A Patient & Consumer Guide to Navigating Cannabis Safety."

It can be challenging for patients to determine which businesses offering cannabis products are licensed and approved by the state. Review this list of medical cannabis retailers to find out where to purchase regulated cannabis in Arkansas.

Medical cannabis can be used on private property.

Patients CANNOT medicate or possess medical cannabis in these locations:

• A school bus
• The grounds of any preschool, primary, or secondary school
• Any correctional facility
• Any motor vehicle
• A private residence used at any time to provide licensed childcare, foster care, or other similar social service care on the premises
• Any public place where an individual could reasonably be expected to be observed by others. A public place includes all parts of buildings owned in whole or in part, or leased, by the state or local unit of government. A public place does not include a private residence unless used to provide licensed childcare, foster care, or similar social service care.
• Any health care facility or any place where smoking is prohibited under the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2006
• Knowingly in close physical proximity to anyone under the age of 18

Registering as a medical cannabis patient is the only legal pathway to access cannabis in Alabama and provides important protections that are not available to unregistered individuals.

Federal Protections Apply Only to Registered Patients

Some federal protections are now available, but only to patients who are officially registered in their state’s medical cannabis program.

A federal order issued April 28th,2026,  AG Order No. 6754-2026, treats a state medical cannabis certification or registration as similar to a prescription under federal law.  This means that being registered is not just a state requirement; it may also affect whether a patient qualifies for federal protections.

To receive these protections, a patient’s registration must stay active, current, and in good standing. Learn more here.

Civil Protections for Registered Patients

A landlord is prohibited from refusing to lease or otherwise penalize an individual solely because of their status as a designated caregiver or patient unless doing so would put the landlord in violation of federal law. An employer is prohibited from discriminating against an individual in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment based on an individual's past or present status as a caregiver or a qualifying patient. Medical cannabis patients cannot be discriminated against for their use of cannabis in organ transplants, nor can their status as a patient be the sole determining factor for denial of custody or visitation with a child.

Keeping the Medical Program Strong

Enrollment helps demonstrate continued patient need for Arkansas’s medical cannabis program. A strong registry helps protect and sustain the program, supports continued access for patients with serious health needs, and reinforces the importance of a dedicated medical pathway.

Arkansas recognizes visiting out-of-state patients. To apply as a visiting patient:

• You must have a medical cannabis card or equivalent from another state
• The qualifying condition for which you were approved in your home state must also be a qualifying condition in Arkansas
• Visiting patient cards are issued for 90 days per application
• The non-refundable application processing fee is $50
• Processing time is up to 14 days after submission and payment
• After your application is reviewed, you will receive an email with instructions to log back in and print your card

Submit a visiting patient application through the Arkansas Department of Health.

*UPDATE: AG ORDER NO. 6754-2026 CHANGED FEDERAL CANNABIS LAWS  ON APRIL 28, 2026: Learn more here.

Federal cannabis laws affect far more than whether a patient can access medical cannabis. For decades, federal prohibition has limited protections for medical cannabis patients under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). As a result, patients have often been denied the basic protections that people with other serious health conditions expect in employment, housing, healthcare, and access to federal programs.

Federal prohibition has also affected patients’ access to essential healthcare, housing, and financial support programs, sometimes forcing patients to choose between the medicine they need and the benefits they depend on. It has also created barriers to federal employment, healthcare autonomy, firearm ownership, and other aspects of daily life.

As federal and state cannabis laws change, implementation matters. Advocates must stay vigilant to ensure public agencies, private institutions, employers, housing providers, and healthcare systems update their policies in ways that respect patient rights and protect safe, legal access to medical cannabis.

It is important to stay active, engaged, and informed. Sign up to get ASA updates and learn more about ending patient discrimination. 

Rights and protections for medical cannabis patients are evolving. In some cases, outdated policies may impact how patients are treated. In other cases, like those in the military, policy changes will have to come from Washington, DC. In the case of organ transplants, stigma still plays a role in medical cannabis patients having access to life-saving treatment, even if state laws ban discrimination.  Please use the resources below to better understand patient rights and how to navigate these programs and services.