How To Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Arkansas

Getting a medical marijuana card in Arkansas can feel confusing the first time. We’re here to make it easier. On this page, you’ll find who qualifies, how to apply, what visiting patients need to know, and answers to the questions we hear every day at Arkansas’ Finest.

  • In Arkansas, cannabis is medical-only. That means to shop at any Arkansas’ Finest dispensary, you must have:

    • A valid Arkansas medical marijuana patient card, or

    • An approved Arkansas visiting patient registry ID card if you live out of state.

    No card = no purchase. We legally have to follow the state rules, even if we’d love to help.

    You don’t get your card from a dispensary. You:

    1. See a doctor for a medical cannabis evaluation

    2. Apply through the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH)

    3. Wait for ADH to approve and issue your card

    Click here to get started or to log-into your account.

  • To qualify as a patient in Arkansas, you generally must:

    • Be 18 or older, or

    • Be a minor with a parent or legal guardian registered as your caregiver

    • Be an Arkansas resident with an Arkansas driver’s license or state ID

    • Have at least one qualifying medical condition

    • Get an official Physician Written Certification from an Arkansas-licensed MD or DO

    • Not be an active member of the Arkansas National Guard or U.S. military, who are currently prohibited from holding a card

    Examples of qualifying conditions (not the full list):

    • Cancer

    • Glaucoma

    • HIV/AIDS

    • Hepatitis C

    • ALS

    • Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis

    • PTSD

    • Severe arthritis

    • Fibromyalgia

    • Alzheimer’s disease

    • Cachexia / wasting syndrome

    • Peripheral neuropathy

    • Intractable (chronic) pain

    • Severe nausea

    • Seizure disorders (including epilepsy)

    • Severe and persistent muscle spasms (for example, multiple sclerosis)

    For the complete, official list, see the Arkansas Department of Health Medical Marijuana Program website or UAMS’s “Approved Conditions” resource.

  • You apply through the Arkansas Department of Health, not the dispensary. Here’s the short version:

    Step 1 – See a doctor

    Schedule an appointment with an Arkansas-licensed physician who evaluates you for medical marijuana. If you qualify, they’ll fill out the official Physician Written Certification form.

    Step 2 – Gather what you need

    • Your Physician Written Certification

    • A copy of your Arkansas driver’s license or state ID

    • Your basic info (address, SSN, etc.)

    • A way to pay the $50 non-refundable state fee (card online, or check/money order by mail)

    Step 3 – Apply online or by mail

    • Online:

      • Go to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Patient Registry System: https://mmj.adh.arkansas.gov

      • Create an account, complete the application, upload your documents, and pay the $50 fee.

    • By mail:

      • Download the patient application from the ADH site.

      • Mail your completed forms, copies, and check/money order (no cash) to the address listed in the packet.

    Step 4 – Wait for approval

    ADH says applications can take up to 14 days to process after they receive your completed application and payment.

    If you’re approved, ADH issues your patient registry ID card. You’ll need that card (physical or printed/downloaded) and your ID when you shop.

    Step 5 – Watch your expiration date

    Most cards are valid for one year, unless your doctor indicates otherwise.
    Set a reminder to renew a few weeks before it expires so you don’t have a gap in access.

  • Already have a card from another state? Arkansas doesn’t automatically accept it at the counter. Instead, you can apply to ADH for an Arkansas visiting patient registry ID card.

    Key things to know:

    • You must have a valid medical marijuana card (or equivalent) from your home state.

    • Your condition must also be one of Arkansas’ qualifying conditions.

    • Visiting patient cards are usually valid for 90 days.

    • The fee is $50 (non-refundable), paid to ADH.

    • Processing can take 10–14 days, so apply before your trip.

    Once you have your Arkansas visiting card and a valid ID, you can shop at Arkansas’ Finest dispensaries while you’re in the state, following the same purchase limits and rules as resident patients.

  • This is a quick “know before you go” section. It’s not legal advice, just a friendly overview.

    Purchase & possession limits

    • Patients and caregivers can purchase up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis from licensed dispensaries in any 14-day period.

    • That limit is statewide. All dispensaries combined, not per store.

    No home grow

    • Arkansas does not allow patients or caregivers to grow their own plants. All medical cannabis must be purchased from licensed dispensaries and cultivators.

    Where you can and can’t use

    Generally allowed:

    • Private residences, where the property owner allows it

    Not allowed:

    • Public places

    • In a vehicle (driver or passenger)

    • On school grounds or school buses

    • In correctional facilities

    • In many workplaces or any place that chooses to prohibit it

    • Patients under 21 using herbal/smokable forms

    • Adults inhaling herbal cannabis in the presence of a pregnant woman or a child age 14 or under

    If you’re ever unsure, it’s safest to keep it at home and check official state guidance or talk to an attorney.

  • If you’re the research type (we see you 👀), here are good starting points:

    Once ADH gives you the green light, Arkansas’ Finest is here to help with the fun part: learning products, dialing in dosing, and finding what works best for you.

    Browse Arkansas’ Finest dispensary menus

    Apply or renew with the Arkansas Department of Health

Medical Marijuana Card FAQs

  • Yes. Arkansas is medical-only. We can’t legally sell cannabis to anyone without either an Arkansas medical marijuana patient card or an Arkansas visiting patient registry ID card from the Department of Health.

    Click here to get started or to log-into your account.

  • You get your card from the Arkansas Department of Health, not from the dispensary.

    • First, see an Arkansas-licensed doctor who completes a Physician Written Certification if you qualify.

    • Then apply through the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Patient Registry System (online or by mail) and pay the $50 fee.

    Once ADH approves you, they issue the card; we just verify it and help you shop.

    • Adults: You can apply as a patient at 18 or older.

    • Minors: Patients under 18 can qualify, but they need a parent or legal guardian registered as their caregiver.

    • Smoking rule: Patients under 21 are not allowed to consume herbal/smokable forms of cannabis under Arkansas law, even if they have a card.

  • The state fee is $50 (non-refundable) each time you apply or renew, whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or visiting patient.

    Your doctor’s visit is a separate cost and depends on which clinic you choose.

  • ADH says to allow up to 14 days to process your application after they’ve received your complete paperwork and the $50 fee.

    Sometimes it’s faster, but if anything’s missing or incorrect, it can take longer.

  • Most cards are valid for one year, unless your doctor marks a shorter period.

    Plan to:

    1. Get a new Physician Written Certification, and

    2. Re-apply with ADH + pay the $50 fee

    a few weeks before your current card expires.

  • A caregiver is someone ADH authorizes to buy, carry, and help a patient use medical cannabis — usually for minors or adults who can’t easily visit the dispensary.

    Caregivers must:

    • Be 21 or older (with some exceptions for parents of minors)

    • Be an Arkansas resident

    • Pass a background check

    • Apply to ADH and get their own caregiver card

    Their purchases count toward the patient’s 2.5-ounce limit, not a separate caregiver limit.

    1. The child must have a qualifying condition.

    2. An Arkansas-licensed physician must complete a Physician Written Certification for the minor.

    3. A parent or legal guardian applies to ADH as the caregiver, completes a background check, pays the fee, and is issued the caregiver card.

    The minor has the patient card; the parent/guardian is the one allowed to purchase and pick up.

  • Patients and caregivers can buy up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis from licensed dispensaries in any 14-day period.

    That’s a rolling 14-day limit across the entire state, not per store.

  • Nope. Arkansas law does not allow home grow for patients or caregivers. Only licensed cultivators can grow cannabis here. All patient product has to come from licensed dispensaries.

  • You’ll need an Arkansas visiting patient registry ID card first.

    • Apply online through ADH

    • Pay the $50 visiting patient fee

    • Get approved for a 90-day visiting card

    Once that’s active, bring your visiting card + ID and you’re good to shop.

  • Not completely. Arkansas law gives patients some protection from being discriminated against just for having a card, but employers can still:

    • Have drug-free workplace policies

    • Test for THC

    • Prohibit impairment at work or on-duty

    If your job is safety-sensitive (CDL, healthcare, etc.), talk to your employer or an attorney before assuming you’re in the clear.

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