For the sake of the many Arkansans and Arkansawyers wondering how to get medical marijuana in Arkansas, we have some great tips for them. Apart from being an Arkansas citizen, what else do you need? How do you qualify to access medical cannabis? You’ll get to know about all this and much more. So, please journey with us as we enlighten you.

Many rejoiced after medical marijuana use in Arkansas got approved over the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016. And by October 2, 2020, there were 85 388 MMJ cards approved. That’s according to Healthy Arkansas. If you didn’t benefit from one of these cards and you feel you deserve one, this is what you need to know.

Below are some of the qualifications you must meet to get a registry card:

• You must be an Arkansas resident holding an AR State ID card or a driver’s license.
• A patient must be18 years or older. If you’re a minor, then you must have parental consent.
• Arkansas has a list of qualifying medical conditions that a patient must have, and you can click here to check which are these. 
• A patient must get official written certification from a specialist.

NB: Unfortunately, if you’re an Arkansas National Guard or military in the United States, the State law prohibits you from obtaining a registry ID card.

Now let’s look at the qualifying conditions for MMJ cards in Arkansas below:

• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• Ulcerative colitis
• Severe nausea
• Severe arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Crohn’s disease
• PTSD
• An intractable pain. ( a type of pain that has refused to respond to medications, or treatment, for more than six months).
• Seizures/epilepsy
• Severe and constant muscle spasms, including multiple sclerosis

All the above are the primary medical conditions approved by the Department of Health in Arkansas. However, they have the power to include more. But they have to go through them with the department for evaluation. 

 So, how do you get an MMJ card? 

We’ll explain to you how to get medical marijuana in Arkansas below;  

You’ll have to find a registered medical marijuana doctor.

 All patients in need of medical marijuana must get a recommendation from a medical marijuana physician. And this is a document that an MD or OD must certify, confirming that the said patient qualifies for the cannabis. Then they can receive their MMJ card.

This certification is valid for a month. That means a patient who gets it must submit it within 30 days. Otherwise, they’ll have to obtain a new one if this time elapses. 

If it’s your first time applying for the certification, you’ll get a new patient application form. Then you’ll go through the document, complete and submit it. Qualified patient care will review it and schedule an appointment with you. If he finds some crucial missing information, he dismisses the application. In this case, you’ll have to repeat the process. 

Now, the application.

What you need

• An application form.
• A complete Written Certification from your Physician
• A copy of your ID card issued by the state of Arkansas or driving license
• A non-refundable application fee of $50.

You have the flexibility of applying for your MMJ card through email or online. Most people prefer to do it online, which is more convenient. If you’re one of those wondering how to get medical marijuana in Arkansas.

An applicant must possess an Arkansas ID and a certificate from a qualified physician. Then the patient must make a payment of $50 to complete the application.

 If you’re a caregiver, you must provide a background check and an additional fee of $37. 

Whether you’re a patient or caregiver, you need to create an account. Complete the application and then make your payment.

Your application processing may take about 10-14 days. It will be great to receive your card, which is valid for a year. But you can always renew it after expiration.

After the approval of your application, you’ll automatically get the physical card through the mail but not in your email. So, if you had applied online, you can go to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana System. 

Is your information confidential that you give to attain an MMJ card? 

A simple answer to this is Yes. All your details that you give goes directly to the Arkansas Department Health Medical Marijuana Section. Therefore, your info applies to federal privacy laws. What that means, your information is confidential and exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.

So, you don’t have to worry, for it’s not subject to exposure to anyone, public or private entity. It’s only the authorized department employees who can use it. They use this to conduct official duties required for the medical marijuana program. Also, Law enforcement can access your ID to check its validity.

How to find the ideal Physician

Please note that the health department doesn’t provide a list of marijuana doctors that will help you. And not every doctor can give you a recommendation letter for acquiring your medical marijuana cert. So, it’s your responsibility as a patient or caregiver to find the proper Physician. 

One of the things you must look out for is whether a physician qualifies in medicine. And get licensed by Arkansas.

More to this, the doctor should have:

• A bona fide doctor-patient relationship. It’s essential to have this with the patient before a physician certifies the patient for medical cannabis.  
• Have a controlled substance license with the DEA.
• A moral standing to practice medicine in Arkansas

Can you grow marijuana since you have an MMJ card? 

Unfortunately, you can’t just cultivate medical marijuana. Yes, you may be a registered patient or a designated caregiver, but this doesn’t give you the right to grow it. The Arkansas state department requires patients to get marijuana-infused products from the dispensaries in Arkansas.

As a registered patient, you can only purchase a maximum of 2.5 ounces from the dispensary. That’s every 14 days. 

In Conclusion,   now with the above tips, you know how to get medical marijuana in Arkansas. Right? Do you have what it’s needed to apply for one? If you happen to have one of the qualifying conditions listed by the Arkansas state, take action today. It’s such a straightforward application process and convenient.