Arkansas

Regulatory Framework

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission (AMMC) is responsible for administering and regulating licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation facilities [1]. The AMMC is overseen by the Arkansas Department of Health [9].

Legal Status

Arkansas Code Annotated (A.C.A.) §5-64-101 defines cannabis as "Any part and any variety or species, or both, of the Cannabis plant that contains THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) whether growing or not; seeds, extracts, Every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or resin.". [11]

Market Status Statute Year
Adult-Use Illegal Classified in A.C.A. §5-64-214 [12] as a Schedule VI controlled substance per A.C.A. § 5-64-215 [13]. -
Medical Legal The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment (AMMA) of 2016 [7]. 2016

Track-and-Trace

The Arkansas State Traceability Enforcement Monitoring System (ARStems) [2] is the seed-to-sale tracking system used in Arkansas. ARStems is powered by BioTrack [2].

Licensing

There are four types of licenses available for the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Program: [2]

  • Dispensary
  • Cultivator
  • Processor
  • Transporter

Possession Limits

Qualified registered patients are allowed to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana from a dispensary in a 14-day period [8]. Each individual purchase counts against the patient’s balance for 14 days; the patient balance does not reset every 14 days [8]

Medical Cannabis

Qualifying registered patients with a medical marijuana card can purchase medical marijuana from a licensed dispensary. Patients cannot cultivate their own medical marijuana [9].

In order to be registered as a patient in the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Program, a person must meet the following criteria: [10]

  • Be 18 years of age or older, or be a minor patient with parental consent.
  • Be diagnosed with at least one of the qualifying conditions listed by the Arkansas Department of Health.
  • Have a written certification from a licensed physician.
  • Be an Arkansas resident with proof of residency.
  • Not be a member of the Arkansas National Guard or the United States military.

Additional Resources

References