Arkansas Has a Medical Cannabis Program
Issue 6 passed November 2016 with 53% of the vote. First dispensary opened May 2019. Recreational measure failed in 2022.
Arkansas Cannabis Quick Facts
| Status | Medical Only |
| Recreational | Not Legal |
| Medical | Legal |
| Decriminalized | No |
| Possession Limit | Medical patients: 2.5 oz per 14-day period |
| Medical Conditions | Cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Crohn's, hepatitis C, Tourette's, severe arthritis, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer's, PTSD, and others (18 conditions) |
| Regulatory Agency | Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration |
Penalties & Enforcement
Non-medical possession under 4 oz: misdemeanor, up to 1 year and $2,500 fine.
Only registered medical patients with valid cards can legally possess cannabis. Non-patient possession remains a criminal offense. If you have a medical card from another state, check whether Arkansas accepts out-of-state cards before traveling.
What You Need to Know
No home cultivation. Recreational ballot measure (Issue 4) was rejected by voters in November 2022 with 56% voting No.
Nearby States with Legal Cannabis
Arkansas borders or is near states with legal recreational cannabis. Remember: transporting cannabis across state lines is a federal crime, even between two legal states.
- Missouri — Recreational & Medical
Learn More
- How to Get a Medical Cannabis Card — state-by-state application guide
- Understanding State Cannabis Laws — how state and federal laws interact
- What to Expect at a Dispensary — first visit guide
- Dosing Fundamentals — start low, go slow
- Drug Interactions — check before combining cannabis with medications
- Driving & Impairment — DUI laws apply in every state
For support with quitting or cutting back on cannabis, visit our companion site CannabisDependence.org