How to Get an Arkansas Medical Marijuana Card

Last verified: May 2026

The Three-Step Application

1. Confirm a qualifying condition. Match your documented diagnosis to one of the 18 qualifying conditions under Amendment 98 § 2(13).
2. Get a written certification. Schedule a visit with an Arkansas-licensed M.D. or D.O. holding federal DEA registration. Telehealth is permitted under Arkansas State Medical Board telehealth rules. The certification is valid for 30 days from the date of signing.
3. File the ADH application. Visit mmj.adh.arkansas.gov, upload the certification, proof of Arkansas residency (driver’s license or state ID), and pay the $50 fee. Processing takes up to 14 days. ADH does not issue temporary cards.

Eligibility Requirements

• Be 18 or older — or be a minor with a parental caregiver.
• Have a qualifying-condition diagnosis from an Arkansas-licensed physician.
• Hold the official physician written certification form, signed within the past 30 days.
• Be an Arkansas resident with proof of residency (Arkansas driver’s license or state ID).
• Pay the $50 non-refundable application fee.
• Not be a member of the Arkansas National Guard or the United States military. A 2017 statutory carve-out bars cardholding by all uniformed military and National Guard personnel.

Fees, Renewal, and Validity

What the Card Authorizes

An Arkansas Medical Marijuana Patient Identification Card authorizes:

• Purchase of up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana per 14-day rolling period from any Arkansas-licensed dispensary (see purchase limits).
• Possession of patient-quantity amounts in compliance with the 2.5 oz / 14-day cap.
• Use of the medicine in private. Public consumption, motor-vehicle consumption, school-grounds consumption, and consumption in places where smoking is forbidden under the Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act of 2006 are prohibited.

The card does not authorize home cultivation (Amendment 98 § 6(b)), does not defend against DUI charges (Ark. Code § 5-65-102(B); Amendment 98 § 3(c)), does not override federal employment drug-testing, and does not remove the federal Gun Control Act bar on firearm ownership by cannabis users (though Arkansas’s 2023 statute permits cardholders to obtain Arkansas concealed-carry licenses despite the federal bar).

Telehealth Certification

Most Arkansas medical-marijuana patients now obtain their certification via telehealth visits. Arkansas State Medical Board telehealth rules permit licensed M.D.s and D.O.s to certify Amendment 98 patients via video consultation, provided the practitioner has a bona fide patient-physician relationship. Telehealth visits typically run $150–$250 and last 15–30 minutes; the practitioner reviews documentation, confirms qualifying-condition status, and signs the official ADH certification.

Caregivers

Caregivers may serve up to five qualifying patients (more if all are family members). Caregivers must be 21+, hold no excluded felony, and undergo a $34 background check. Caregivers may purchase, transport, and administer cannabis on behalf of a registered patient — but cannot grow, and cannot use cannabis under the patient’s purchase limit. Full caregiver page.

Visiting-Patient Pathway

Out-of-state patients with a valid registry card from another state’s medical-marijuana program may apply online for a 30-day Arkansas visiting-patient card under Amendment 98 § 2(18) and ADH Rules § IV. The fee is $50. Full visiting-patient page.

Processing Time and Card Delivery

ADH processes applications within up to 14 days. There is no temporary card. Once approved, the patient receives a physical Arkansas Medical Marijuana Patient Identification Card by mail. The card is valid for 1 year from the date of issuance and must be renewed annually for the $50 renewal fee.

Common Reasons for Application Denial or Delay

• Expired or out-of-window certification — the practitioner’s signature is older than 30 days when ADH receives the application.
• Incomplete proof of residency — an Arkansas address must appear on the driver’s license or state ID.
• Unmatched qualifying condition — certifications listing a non-qualifying diagnosis (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, ADHD, depression alone) are rejected.
• Federal-employment-related disqualifications — National Guard, U.S. military membership.
• Background-check delays — for caregiver applications.

Where to Apply

• Online portal: mmj.adh.arkansas.gov
• Phone: (501) 682-4982
• Mailing address: 4815 W. Markham St., Slot 4, Little Rock, AR 72205