Medical Cannabis in Arkansas

Program overview

Arkansas operates Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment, administered by Arkansas Department of Health.

How Arkansas’s law developed

Approved by voters November 2016 via Issue 6. First dispensaries opened May 2019. A 2022 recreational ballot measure narrowly failed.

Neighboring states

• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Oklahoma
• Tennessee
• Texas

Official Arkansas resources

Questions people in Arkansas ask

Is recreational marijuana legal in Arkansas?

No. A recreational legalization ballot measure (Issue 4) was defeated in November 2022 with approximately 56% voting against. Recreational possession remains illegal, with penalties ranging from misdemeanor fines to felony charges depending on the amount.