Business Listings - Arkansas Cannabis

Arkansas – allowed marijuana usage and limitations

Unfortunately, Arkansas shows almost no love when it comes to marijuana usage and has some of the strictest anti-marijuana laws in the US.

If you’re over 21 years of age, you’re entitled to a medical marijuana license if your medical condition justifies it. In fact, this is the only group of people who are able to use marijuana in the eyes of the Arkansas law.

Even if you qualify, you must make sure you’re only getting it from a state-licensed dispensary. Also, the marijuana must contains 10 mg of THC or less in order to be considered legal.

As we’ve already established, recreational use of marijuana is a no-go in Arkansas, and if you’re caught carrying it in public, you can expect to pay the following fines:

Under 4 ounces can set you back by up to $2,500 and you could also serve prison time (up to 1 year). Now, keep in mind that if you’ve faced drug-related charges before, the punishment can skyrocket quite quickly. For example, by carrying 1 to 4 ounces of marijuana and having 2 or more drug convictions, you can expect to pay up to $10,000 and serve up to 6 years in prison.

Also, those who are convicted on the grounds of possessing drugs for the first time may be eligible for parole instead of serving prison time.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the penalties for delivering marijuana to another person are even harsher. If you’re trafficking 500 pounds of marijuana or more, you can be charged with drug trafficking, which is a very serious crime in Arkansas. The prison time you’re going to have to serve if caught can be anywhere between 10 to 40 years.

It’s important to understand you can even be punished if you’re not asking to be compensated for your efforts when delivering marijuana to someone.

Unfortunately, Arkansas is pretty strict even when it comes to growing and manufacturing marijuana. The state, however, does take into account if the weed was produced for personal use only, and is willing to adjust the punishment accordingly. The amount you’re growing also has a direct impact on the severity of the punishment.

Those who are suffering from a serious illness such as HIV/Aids, Glaucoma, Cancer, Multiple sclerosis, severe arthritis, etc., are eligible to obtain a medical marijuana license. Even certain psychological conditions like PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome) are enough, as marijuana has been proven to better the quality of life for those individuals who are suffering from it.

Even if you do have a medical marijuana license, certain usage limitations apply. For example, you cannot inhale it in the presence of a pregnant woman or a child that’s less than 14 years of age.

In case you’re convicted of drug trafficking or drug possession, you can also expect to lose your driving privileges for a period of 6 months. As already mentioned, first-time offenders are likely to receive a softer punishment, but your criminal record is still going to reflect the charges, even after the probation period is over.