Medical marijuana is legal in Arkansas for registered qualifying patients, but recreational marijuana remains illegal. The state operates licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, while home cultivation is prohibited even for registered patients.
Arkansas voters approved the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment in November 2016. The state began accepting patient applications in 2017, and the first licensed dispensary opened in 2019.
Below is an overview of Arkansas marijuana laws, including medical marijuana, possession penalties, dispensary purchases, home growing and rules for visiting patients. For a nationwide comparison, visit our Marijuana Laws by State guide.
Last updated: September 13, 2026
Is Recreational Marijuana Legal in Arkansas?
No. Recreational marijuana is not legal in Arkansas.
Possessing marijuana without authorization under the state’s medical marijuana program can result in criminal charges. Arkansas has not broadly decriminalized possession of small amounts for recreational use.
Legal marijuana sales are limited to registered medical marijuana patients, approved visiting patients and their designated caregivers through licensed dispensaries.
Arkansas Marijuana Laws at a Glance
| Category | Arkansas law |
|---|---|
| Recreational marijuana | Illegal |
| Medical marijuana | Legal for registered qualifying patients |
| Medical possession limit | Up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana |
| Medical purchase limit | Up to 2.5 ounces during any 14-day period |
| Recreational possession | Illegal |
| Possession of less than 4 ounces without medical authorization | Class A misdemeanor in most cases |
| Home cultivation | Prohibited |
| Recreational retail sales | Not legal |
| Medical dispensaries | Operational |
| Public marijuana use | Prohibited |
| Out-of-state medical patients | May apply for visiting-patient approval |
What Are the Penalties for Marijuana Possession in Arkansas?
Possession of marijuana remains illegal for people who are not protected by the state’s medical marijuana program.
Under Arkansas law, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana is generally a Class A misdemeanor.
A Class A misdemeanor can carry up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
Possession of four ounces or more but less than 10 pounds is a Class D felony. Larger quantities are subject to increasingly serious felony classifications.
Arkansas law also provides enhanced consequences in certain cases involving previous controlled-substance possession convictions. For example, possession of between one and four ounces can become a Class D felony for a person with four previous qualifying possession convictions.
Registered medical marijuana patients are protected when possessing marijuana in accordance with the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment and program rules.
Can You Buy Recreational Marijuana in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas does not have legal recreational marijuana stores.
Licensed dispensaries may sell marijuana only as allowed under the state’s medical marijuana program.
Adults cannot legally purchase marijuana from an Arkansas dispensary simply because they are 21 or older. A qualifying patient must have a valid medical marijuana registry identification card, or an eligible out-of-state patient must receive approval through Arkansas’ visiting-patient program.
Can You Grow Marijuana at Home in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas does not allow personal marijuana cultivation.
Registered medical marijuana patients and designated caregivers cannot grow marijuana at home. Medical marijuana must be obtained through the state’s licensed dispensary system.
This differs from many other medical marijuana states that allow qualifying patients to grow a limited number of plants.
Growing marijuana without the required commercial authorization can result in criminal penalties.
Is Medical Marijuana Legal in Arkansas?
Yes. Medical marijuana is legal for registered patients with qualifying medical conditions.
The Arkansas Department of Health administers the patient registry, while licensed dispensaries operate under the state’s medical marijuana regulatory system.
Qualifying conditions include:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- 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 lasting more than six months that has not responded to ordinary treatment
- Severe nausea
- Seizures, including those associated with epilepsy
- Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those associated with multiple sclerosis
The Arkansas Department of Health may also approve additional qualifying medical conditions.
Patients generally must receive written certification from an Arkansas-licensed physician who meets the state’s requirements and then apply for a registry identification card.
How Much Medical Marijuana Can You Possess in Arkansas?
A registered qualifying patient may possess up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana.
Arkansas dispensaries may dispense no more than 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana to a qualifying patient during any 14-day period.
The purchase limit operates on a rolling basis. Individual purchases continue counting against a patient’s available balance for 14 days rather than the entire limit resetting on a fixed date every two weeks.
Patients can check their available purchase balance through the state’s medical marijuana system.
Can You Buy Marijuana in Arkansas With an Out-of-State Medical Card?
An out-of-state medical marijuana card alone does not immediately authorize a visitor to purchase marijuana in Arkansas.
Arkansas allows qualifying out-of-state patients to apply for a visiting-patient registry identification card.
To qualify, the visitor must generally have a valid medical marijuana card or equivalent authorization from another U.S. state or jurisdiction, and the condition for which the patient was approved must also qualify under Arkansas’ medical marijuana program.
The visiting-patient application carries a nonrefundable $50 fee. If approved, the visiting-patient card is valid for 90 days.
Approved visiting patients are subject to the same 2.5-ounce medical marijuana dispensing limit during any 14-day period.
Can Tourists Buy Recreational Marijuana in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas does not allow recreational marijuana sales to residents or tourists.
A visitor who is an eligible medical marijuana patient may be able to purchase marijuana after applying for and receiving Arkansas visiting-patient approval.
Visitors should not bring marijuana into Arkansas from another state or transport marijuana purchased in Arkansas across state lines. State medical marijuana laws do not override federal restrictions on interstate marijuana transportation.
Where Can You Use Marijuana in Arkansas?
Arkansas’ medical marijuana law does not allow marijuana use anywhere a patient chooses.
Medical marijuana use is prohibited in public places where a person could reasonably be expected to be observed by others.
Use is also prohibited in locations including school buses, preschool and K-12 school grounds, correctional facilities and motor vehicles.
Medical marijuana cannot be used in a private residence that is being used to provide licensed childcare, foster care or similar services. Use is also restricted in healthcare facilities and other locations where smoking is prohibited under applicable state law.
Arkansas also prohibits knowingly using medical marijuana in close physical proximity to anyone under 18.
For most patients, this means marijuana use is primarily limited to appropriate private locations where its use is otherwise allowed.
Can You Drive After Using Marijuana in Arkansas?
Driving while impaired by marijuana is illegal in Arkansas.
Having a valid medical marijuana card does not authorize a patient to drive while intoxicated or otherwise impaired.
Marijuana also may not be used in a motor vehicle under Arkansas’ medical marijuana rules.
Patients and other consumers should keep marijuana stored and transported in compliance with applicable state law.
Can Local Governments Restrict Marijuana Businesses?
Yes, although Arkansas’ medical marijuana amendment places limits on local authority.
Cities, incorporated towns and counties may establish reasonable zoning regulations for licensed dispensaries and cultivation facilities.
The amendment generally requires those zoning regulations to be comparable to zoning rules that apply to licensed retail pharmacies.
A local government may not simply prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries or cultivation facilities through ordinary local action. A local prohibition must generally be approved by voters through an election process authorized under state law.
Is Marijuana Legal on Federal Land in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas’ medical marijuana law does not override federal law.
Possession and use of marijuana can remain prohibited on federally controlled property even when a person has a valid Arkansas medical marijuana card.
This includes federal buildings and may include national parks, national forests and other federally managed property.
Patients should not assume that protections provided by Arkansas law apply on federal land.
Are THCA, Delta-8 and Hemp-Derived THC Legal in Arkansas?
Arkansas significantly tightened its laws governing hemp-derived THC products under Act 934, which took effect after Attorney General Tim Griffin certified the law on April 22, 2026. The law defines an “intoxicating hemp product” broadly and specifically includes delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC, delta-10 THC, THCA, HHC and numerous other intoxicating or chemically similar cannabinoids.
Under the law, hemp-derived products intended for human consumption or inhalation that contain THC generally are not allowed unless they qualify as a permitted “consumable hemp product.” Arkansas expressly counts THCA, delta-8, delta-9 and delta-10 toward “total THC,” and knowingly manufacturing, marketing or selling an intoxicating hemp product can be prosecuted as a felony. This means products such as high-THCA hemp flower and typical intoxicating delta-8 products cannot simply be sold as federally legal hemp in Arkansas.
Certain low-THC consumable hemp products remain legal under strict conditions. One category allowed by the law may contain no more than 1 milligram of total THC per container and must have a CBD-to-THC ratio greater than 15-to-1. Legal products are also subject to testing, licensing, labeling and other requirements, and sales to people under 21 are prohibited.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arkansas Marijuana Laws
Is marijuana decriminalized in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas has not broadly decriminalized recreational marijuana possession. Possession of less than four ounces without medical authorization is generally a Class A misdemeanor, although previous convictions and other circumstances can affect the charge.
How much marijuana can an Arkansas medical patient buy?
A registered qualifying patient may purchase up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana during any 14-day period. The limit is calculated on a rolling basis.
Can medical marijuana patients grow plants in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas does not allow registered patients or caregivers to cultivate marijuana at home. Medical marijuana must be obtained through licensed dispensaries.
Can you use an out-of-state medical marijuana card in Arkansas?
Not automatically. Eligible out-of-state patients must apply for Arkansas visiting-patient approval before purchasing medical marijuana from an Arkansas dispensary.
Can you smoke medical marijuana in public in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas prohibits medical marijuana use in public places where a person could reasonably be expected to be observed by others, along with several other specifically restricted locations.
