Am I Eligible for medical cannabis?
If you're curious about eligibility requirements regarding medical marijuana, we're here to provide some insight. For more details about medical marijuana in Arkansas visit click here.
Do I need to see a doctor to see if I qualify?
Yes. This is the first step to seeing if you're an eligible candidate for medical marijuana. All patients must be approved for a Medical Marijuana Card (MMJ) by a licensed physician in their area.
What are qualifying conditions?
There are numerous conditions and symptoms that can be relieved through the use of medical cannabis. The State of Arkansas permits the use of medical marijuana for a variety of conditions that can be diagnosed by your licensed healthcare provider. Some of these conditions include, but are not limited to:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- Positive Status for HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Tourette's Syndrome
- Crohn's Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- PTSD
- Severe Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Intractable pain
- Severe Nausea
- Seizures including without limitation to those characteristic of epilepsy
- Severe and persistent muscle spasms
- Any other medical condition or its treatment approved by the DOH
What do I need to apply for a medical card?
The following are required when submitting your application:
- The application form
- A completed Physician Written Certification
- Photocopy of your Arkansas issued driver's license or state ID (remember: name and address must match what is listed on your Arkansas driver's license or ID).
- A nonrefundable $50 application fee
How Long Does My Medical Marijuana Card Last?
Your Medical Marijuana Card (MMJ) is active for one calendar year. It will need to be renewed yearly. We recommend that you become familiar with your expiration date to prepare for a re-certification appointment with your doctor. Starting earlier ensures you have enough time for processing your renewal application with the Arkansas Department of Health.
LEGISLATION INFORMATION
In 2016, Arkansas adopted an amendment to its state constitution, The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016. Here is an excerpt from the document:
"an amendment to the constitution making the medical use of marijuana legal under arkansas state law, but acknowledging that marijuana use, possession, and distribution for any purpose remain illegal under federal law; establishing a system for the cultivation, acquisition and distribution of marijuana for qualifying patients through licensed medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation facilities and granting those dispensaries and facilities limited immunity; providing that qualifying patients, as well as dispensary and cultivation facility agents shall not be subject to criminal or civil penal ties or other forms of discrimination for engaging in or assisting with the patients' medical use of marijuana; requiring that in order to become a qualifying patient, a person submit to the state a written certification from a physician licensed in the state of arkansas that he or she is suffering from a qualifying medical condition; establishing an initial list of qualifying medical conditions; directing the department of health to establish rules related to the processing of applications for registry identification cards and the addition of qualifying medical conditions if such additions will enable patients to derive therapeutic benefit from the medical use of marijuana"
To see the entire amendment, click here.