Arkansas Cannabis Knowledge Center:
Created to provide helpful information about the Arkansas Cannabis Industry.
Arkansas will begin accepting license applications for Cultivation Facilities and Dispensaries on July 1.
Cannabis License Info:
Information will be updated here as it becomes available. Check back for updates!
In order to apply for a marijuana business license in Arkansas, prospective applicants are required to prove possession of $200,000 in security bond, with a minimum of $100,000 in liquid assets in order to be considered, in addition to the following:
applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older
- Must be a resident of Arkansas for seven (7) consecutive years
- Has not previously held a marijuana license for a dispensary or cultivation facility that has been revoked
- Holds no ownership or stake in identical licenses in the state; cultivation licensees may not have stake in additional cultivation licenses and vice-versa for dispensaries
- Has not been convicted of an excluded felony offense
- If possessing any professional license, the license must be in good standing
- Has no outstanding tax delinquencies with the state of Arkansas
You can see the full list of applicant requirements, including required documentation and information, here.
Should you be awarded a business license, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with these official rules and regulations.
Current Estimated Patient Counts: TBD
How can I get an Arkansas Medical Cannabis Card?
Currently, Arkansas is not distributing Medical Marijuana Cards because they are yet to award business licenses and implement locations for dispensing the medicine. Once the state launches the necessary licensing, patients will be able to receive a written recommendation from a physician to apply for a Registration Identification Card, which is issued by the Department of Health.
What are the qualifying conditions for Medical Cannabis in Arkansas?
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- Immunodeficiency Virus/Syndrome
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Tourette’s Syndrome
- Crohn’s Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Severe Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Alzheimer’s Disease
In addition to, “A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one ore more of the following:
- Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Intractable Pain
More than six (6) months of the following conditions:
- Severe Nausea
- Seizures, including those characteristic of Epilepsy
- Severe or Persistent Muscle Spasms
Arkansas Dispensary Licenses
- The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission will be awarding 32 marijuana dispensary licenses.
- The commission will establish an open application period for available licenses.
- Licenses will be distributed within eight (8) geographic zones, which are yet to be determined. This is in an effort to ensure accessibility to medical marijuana across the state.
- Arkansas offers two different types of dispensary licenses; one for solely dispensing, and a 2nd for cultivating dispensaries, which permits the dispensary to cultivate (grow) their own product for retail sale.
- Dispensaries licensed to grow can have up to 50 mature plants and 150 immature plants.
Dispensary License Fees:
- $7,500 application fee
- If an application is unsuccessful, the applicant will be reimbursed 50% ($3,750) of their application fee
- $15,000 one-time licensing fee
- $22,500 annual license fee
Cultivating Dispensary Fees:
If awarded, the applicant must pay a dispensary license fee of $25,000 in certified funds.
Dispensaries may grow or possess:
- 50 mature marijuana plants at one time
- 150 immature marijuana plants at one time (clones for retail sale)
A dispensary also may contract with a cultivation facility to cultivate one or more mature marijuana plants the dispensary is permitted to grow.
Non-Cultivating Dispensary Fees:
- If awarded, the applicant must pay a dispensary license fee of $2,500 in certified funds
What kind of point-of-sale do I need to operate a Dispensary?
Most states require dispensaries to track and trace all of their cannabis-related products for regulatory and compliance reporting requirements. Our Dispensary Point of Sale and inventory management system provides comprehensive seed-to-sale cannabis tracking with a focus on compliant data points. If your state requires seed-to-sale systems to stay compliant, BioTrackTHC has you covered. Our system is customized to meet the unique regulatory frameworks in each and every state.
You can view a full list of required documentation and information for Arkansas Dispensary Licenses here.
Where can I apply for a dispensary license?
A dispensary application can be found here.
Grower (also commonly referred to as Producers or Cultivators) – Cultivators are responsible for growing cannabis. Mature plants are harvested and transferred to a Processor.
Arkansas Cannabis Cultivation Center Licenses
In Arkansas, a marijuana cultivation license permits the license holder to cultivate, prepare, manufacture, process, package, sell and deliver usable marijuana to a dispensary. Applications will not be considered without all required information, documentation, and applications fees.
- Cultivation Facilities may grow and possess usable marijuana in an amount reasonably necessary to meet the demand for and needs of qualifying patients as determined by the commission.
- Cultivation Facilities are also permitted to possess marijuana seeds.
- Regulations allow for 5 Cultivation Center Licenses throughout the state.
The Medical Marijuana Commission will establish an open application period for available licenses.
Cannabis Cultivation License Application Fees:
- $15,000 application fee
- If the application is unsuccessful, 50% ($7,500) will be refunded to the applicant
- $100,000 annual license fee
- If you are awarded a cultivation license, applicants have 7 days to submit a $100,000 cultivation facility license fee in certified funds.
What kind of tracking system do I need to operate a Cultivation Facility?
Most states require an extensive seed-to-sale cannabis tracking system to monitor cultivation efforts and inventory. Our cultivation seed-to-sale-tracking solution provides comprehensive data tracking with an emphasis on compliance. Customized to meet the unique regulatory frameworks in each state, BioTrackTHC also features an all-in-one business tool to help you operate every aspect of the cultivation business by itself, or as part of the vertically-integrated cannabis business.
Detailed information on Arkansas Cultivation Licenses can be found here.
Where can I apply for a cultivation license?
A cultivation application can be found here.
Arkansas Laboratory Licenses
Licensing information for Arkansas Medical Marijuana Laboratories has not yet been defined by the state. Information will be updated here as it becomes available.
Arkansas Cannabis Seed-to-Sale Traceability Info:
Arkansas’ Medical Marijuana Program is operated by the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission. The commission is made up of 5 members, which were selected as the inaugural members in December 2016.
- Dr. Ronda Henry-Tillman, M.D. – Chairwoman (Appointed by Governor Hutchinson)
- James Miller (Appointed by Senator Dismang)
- Dr. J. Carlos Roman M.D. (Appointed by Senator Dismang) (2 Year Term)
- Dr. Stephen J. Carroll, PharmD. (Appointed by Representative Gillam) (2 Year Term)
- Travis W. Story, Esq. (Appointed by Representative Gillam)
Other entities involved include:
- Alcoholic Beverage Control Administration, who will enforce inspections and written warnings/fines for non-compliant cannabis businesses.
- Arkansas Department of Health, who will be responsible for evaluating and awarding medical marijuana registrations.
Download a full overview of the rules and regulations for operating a licensed dispensary or cultivation facility in Arkansas here.
For the latest cannabis-related legislative updates on Arkansas, check out our Cannabis Bill Tracker!
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