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Do I Qualify for medical marijuana in Arkansas

On November 8, 2016, House Bill 1026 was voted into law allowing the possession, use, and cultivation of medical cannabis by patients who have entered into the Department of Health registry. In this article, we will help explain how to become a patient for medical marijuana in Arkansas and then how to obtain medical cannabis.

Step 1: Know the Law and Qualifying Conditions – Who can get medical cannabis?

Residents of Arkansas can become a medical marijuana patient with the recommendation of a physician which confirms they have one of the following eighteen (18) Arkansas medical cannabis approved debilitating, severe or life-threatening medical conditions:

  • Cancer
  • Glaucoma
  • Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome
  • Hepatitis C
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Tourette’s syndrome
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Severe arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Cachexia or wasting syndrome
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Intractable pain which is pain that has not responded to ordinary medications, treatment or surgical measures for more than six (6) months
  • Severe nausea
  • Seizures including without limitation those characteristics of epilepsy
  • Severe and persistent muscle spasms including without limitation those characteristics of multiple sclerosis and any other medical condition or its treatment approved by the Department of Health

Patients of medical marijuana in Arkansas must be residents of Arkansas and must be at least 18 years of age. A registry identification card shall NOT be issued by The Department to a qualifying patient under eighteen (18) unless the following conditions are met:

  • The parent, guardian, or legal custodian consents in writing to the following:
  • To allow the qualifying patient‘s medical use of marijuana
  • The parent, guardian or legal custodian registers as a designated caregiver for the qualifying patient.
  • To assist the qualifying patient in the medical use of marijuana
  • To control the acquisition of the marijuana, the dosage, and the frequency of the medical use of marijuana by the qualifying patient.

Step 2: Get a Doctor’s Recommendation. Do I need to get my doctor involved to get medical cannabis?

Yes, patients must obtain legitimate medical records or documentation from your primary care physician and describe the diagnosis of the patient’s qualifying condition. Make sure you bring the records to the marijuana evaluation appointment.

The medical provider must be a doctor of medicine or osteopathy licensed in the state of Arkansas, have a controlled substances license on file with the DEA, be in good standing to practice medicine in Arkansas, and have a bona fide physician-patient relationship with the patient they are certifying for medical cannabis.

The patient must obtain a signed certification from a physician stating that the patient has a qualifying condition. The patient must then apply to the DOH for a medical cannabis patient identification card. You must submit your application and your forms with your doctor’s recommendation to the DOH either online or by mail.

Submitting an Application

Applications may be completed online here.

The medical marijuana application process has been made as easy as possible for individuals to complete. The application lists the requirements. Read the application carefully.

Qualifying patients may submit applications using the Department’s website, or applications may be printed from the website and mailed into the department. If requested, the department will mail or email an application to a patient.

Mail your completed application to:

Arkansas Department of Health
Medical Marijuana Section
4815 West Markham slot 50
Little Rock, AR 72205

When submitting your application, the following are required:

  • A complete Physician Written Certification;
  • A photocopy of your Arkansas issued driver’s license or state ID. Remember: name and address must match what is listed on your Arkansas driver’s license or ID.

Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (except for published state holidays).

The Arkansas Department of Health will not be keeping a list of medical physicians who certify patients for medical marijuana.

Step 3: Finding the closest Dispensaries – Where do I get medical cannabis products?

You can only procure medical marijuana from one of the 32 access points; unfortunately, no medical cannabis dispensary will have products until late 2017, early 2018, at the earliest. You can find Arkansas dispensaries using one of these search sites once the Department issues dispensary licenses:

Arkansas Medical Marijuana CardStep 4: Know your Limits- How much can I get?

You can purchase up to 2.5 ounces from a dispensary every 14 days if you are a patient that is qualified and registered.

Step 5: Pick your Products – What types of medical cannabis products can I get in Arkansas?

The Arkansas medical marijuana program is nice and broad, which makes selection easier for patients. The available forms of medical cannabis in Arkansas are as follows:

  • Flower products;
  • Concentrates;
  • Edibles;
  • Oils;
  • Tinctures;
  • Topical forms, including ointments, creams, gel, or
    Pills;
  • Vaporization or nebulization form medically appropriate for the DOH; and
    Liquids

Arkansas Medical Cannabis Consulting

Are you an accredited investor, investment group, venture capitalists, or group of entrepreneurs looking to enter the Arkansas Medical Marijuana market and do not know where to start? Quantum 9 has a cannabis permit application team comprised of FDA grant writers and project managers that excel in assisting applicants in winning their medical cannabis licenses in emerging states, like Arkansas. For more information about Quantum 9’s consulting services, please visit this link:

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Michael Mayes

About Michael Mayes

Michael Mayes is the founder and CEO of Quantum 9, Inc., a Chicago, IL-based cannabis consulting firm. We specialize in getting high net worth individuals and private equity cannabis business licenses to cultivate, manufacture and dispense marijuana. We have over 50 marijuana consultants that work for the company, and we have practiced in 12 countries. Our areas of expertise include permit acquisition, team building, employee training planning, and process planning. We help clients fully maximize the potential of any cannabis cultivation, processing, and dispensary business.

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