How do I get an Arkansas medical marijuana card?

Match your documented diagnosis to one of the 18 qualifying conditions under Amendment 98, get a written certification from an Arkansas-licensed M.D. or D.O. (telehealth allowed), apply through mmj.adh.arkansas.gov, upload proof of Arkansas residency, and pay the $50 non-refundable ADH fee. Processing takes up to 14 days. The card is valid 1 year.

How much does the Arkansas medical card cost?

The Arkansas Department of Health charges $50 per year (non-refundable). Most patients add a telehealth or in-person physician certification of $150 to $250. The card is valid 1 year and must be renewed annually.

How many qualifying conditions does Arkansas have?

Eighteen. Amendment 98 enumerates 12 named diseases (cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, Tourette's, Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, PTSD, severe arthritis, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer's) plus 6 symptom-based pathways (cachexia, peripheral neuropathy, intractable pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe muscle spasms).

Does Arkansas accept out-of-state medical cards?

Indirectly. Out-of-state patients with a valid card from another state's program can apply for a 30-day Arkansas Visiting-Patient Card under Amendment 98 § 2(18) for a $50 fee. Out-of-state cards by themselves do not authorize Arkansas dispensary purchases.

Can Arkansas patients grow at home?

No. Amendment 98 § 6(b) prohibits home cultivation by patients and caregivers alike. Arkansas is one of the medical-only states without home-grow rights for cardholders.

Is anxiety a qualifying condition in Arkansas?

No. Anxiety is not on the Arkansas qualifying-conditions list. Despite multiple petitions to add anxiety, ADH has not added any new qualifying condition since the program's 2016 inception. Patients with documented PTSD may qualify on that pathway.

Can military members get an Arkansas medical card?

No. A statutory carve-out bars members of the Arkansas National Guard and U.S. military from cardholding, regardless of qualifying-condition status. Federal employment and CDL restrictions also apply.

Arkansas Medical Marijuana Card

Arkansas Medical Marijuana Card — Patient Hub

How to get an Arkansas medical marijuana card under Amendment 98 and the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016: 18 qualifying conditions (12 named diseases + 6 symptom pathways), Arkansas-licensed M.D./D.O. certification (no PAs or NPs), $50 ADH application fee, 1-year card, up to 14-day processing. Four dedicated pages below.

Last verified: May 2026

Legal Disclaimer: This information reflects Arkansas cannabis law as of June 2026 and is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Laws and regulations change — always verify current rules with the Arkansas Department of Health, Medical Marijuana Section or a qualified attorney. Cannabis remains illegal under federal law.

Medical Disclaimer: This information is educational only and does not constitute medical advice. Cannabis affects everyone differently. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using cannabis, especially if you take other medications.

Conditions

$50

ADH Fee

14 d

Max Wait

1 yr

Card Valid

Program Overview

Arkansas’s medical-marijuana program was created by Amendment 98 (2016), the constitutional amendment passed by Arkansas voters that established the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission (AMMC) for licensing and the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Medical Marijuana Section for patient registration. The first legal sale happened May 2019 — about 913 days after voter approval, the program’s well-documented launch delay. As of roughly 100,000 active cardholders are registered.

Arkansas was the first Bible Belt state to pass medical cannabis at the ballot. The program is administered jointly by ADH (patient registry, certification rules) and AMMC (dispensary and cultivator licensing). There is no recreational program; 2022’s Issue 4 and 2024’s Issue 3 both failed (Issue 3 was enjoined by the Arkansas Supreme Court before the count). See Issue 3 (2024).

The Arkansas Department of Health Medical Marijuana Section administers the patient registry under Amendment 98.
Arkansas Department of Health — Medical Marijuana Section

The Four Topics, Four Dedicated Pages

The medical-card section is split into four pages so you can go straight to what you need:

Qualifying Conditions

All 18 pathways under Amendment 98 § 2(13): 12 named diseases (cancer, MS, Crohn’s, ALS, PTSD, severe arthritis, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s, etc.) plus 6 symptom pathways (intractable pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe muscle spasms, peripheral neuropathy, cachexia). What is — and is not — on the list.

See the conditions list

How to Apply

The 5-step ADH process: confirm Arkansas residency, get a written physician certification from an Arkansas-licensed M.D. or D.O. (telehealth permitted), upload through the ADH portal, pay $50, wait up to 14 days. HowTo schema for AI/voice answers.

Walk through the application

Cost & Renewal

$50 ADH fee + ~$150–$250 telehealth/in-person certification. 1-year card. No recreational program to compare on tax savings, but a card is still the only legal pathway in Arkansas. Renewal pattern and what to budget.

See the cost breakdown

Reciprocity

Arkansas’s 30-day visiting-patient card for out-of-state medical patients under Amendment 98 § 2(18). $50 fee, valid 30 days from issuance, no possession-limit increase. How visiting cards work and what they do not authorize.

See visitor rules

Quick Comparison: Arkansas vs. Reference States

Feature	Arkansas	Missouri (Border)	Oklahoma (Border)
Card Fee	$50 / year	$25 / 3 years	$100 / 2 years
Home Cultivation	No (§ 6(b))	Yes (with caregiver permit)	Yes
Visiting-Patient Card	Yes ($50 / 30 days)	Recreational sales open	Yes (temporary license)
Anxiety on the List	No	Catch-all available	Practitioner discretion
Adult-Use	No (Issues 4 & 3 failed)	Yes (since Feb 2023)	No

The Detailed Medical-Program Section

For deeper coverage of the AMMP, caregivers, the practitioner-certification rules, and the historic 913-day delay, see the dedicated medical-program section:

For Research-Backed Condition Information

For evidence-based summaries on how cannabis may affect specific conditions, see TryCannabis.org’s conditions guide. Always consult your treating physician.