How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Arkansas

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Arkansas

Cannabis was introduced to Western medicine in 1839 by W.B. O’Shaughnessy, who learned about it from Indian hemp doctors he met while working on assignment during the 1830s Opium War between Britain and China.

In 1850, Czar Nicholas I of Russia commissioned a study into what became know as “cannabis indica”, which found that the plant had medical benefits comparable to opium without the side effects.

Fast forward to today, and marijuana is only growing more prominent and more widely-used each year. One of its most effective selling points has been its medical benefits.

What is Medical Marijuana?

Medical marijuana is a plant that can be consumed through inhalation or administered to the skin as a topical cream. It’s recommended that you consult with your doctor about what method is best for you depending on your lifestyle and medical conditions.

Medical marijuana can help relieve chronic pain, seizures, nausea, and other symptoms that are hard to control. The medical form of this drug comes in forms such as oils, tinctures, edibles, and vaporizers. Patients who suffer from chronic pain may also use medical marijuana as an alternative to opiates or benzodiazepines because it poses fewer health risks.

Patients with glaucoma may also benefit from medical marijuana because it causes the person’s pupil to dilate, resulting in a reduction in intra-ocular pressure.

Finally, medical marijuana can be used to reduce side effects of chemotherapy so that cancer patients can improve their quality of life.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Arkansas

In the state of Arkansas, patients can get a card from a doctor to ensure that they aren’t breaking any state laws when they obtain medical marijuana.

HB 1013 was signed into law in 2016 and amended Section 12-12-401, which prohibits the sale, transfer or cultivation of cannabis and basically links the possession and distribution of cannabis to illegal drug trafficking. However, Subsection B reads: “The provisions of this section do not apply to: (i) The use by a qualifying patient who is licensed under the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment.”

Therefore, if you want to get a medical marijuana card in Arkansas, you need to:

1. Be registered with the state and have a valid identification card
2. Have an illness that’s approved by the Medical Marijuana Commission
3. Get a physician’s approval and receive written certification documenting your condition and treatment options
4. Register as a medical marijuana patient with the Arkansas Department of Health
5. Bring any necessary documentation to the ADH office in Little Rock or at one of their satellite locations
6. Receive information about how to obtain your medical marijuana card and follow-up instructions from the ADH office you visited

For more information, visit the Arkansas Department of Health’s website.

The Benefits of Medical Marijuana

Some of medical marijuana’s health benefits include reduced pain, improved sleep, and relief from nausea or epileptic seizures.

If you live in Arkansas and suffer from one of the medical conditions approved by the state, getting a medical marijuana card may be a treatment option for you.

The list of legal conditions includes:

• Cancer associated with severe or chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, or cachexia or severe wasting
• HIV/AIDS
• Debilitating psychiatric disorders
• Seizures, including but not limited to those characteristic of epilepsy
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Glaucoma (if it has caused visual problems or damaged the optic nerve)

A doctor will need to fill out paperwork for you in order for you to apply for an MMJ card.