State Law Tracker · Arkansas

Cannabis and hemp law in Arkansas

In Arkansas, recreational cannabis is illegal, medical cannabis is legal, and delta-8 THC is banned.

Last verified October 24, 2026 · Last major change June 2025

RecreationalIllegal MedicalLegal Delta-8Banned

Is recreational cannabis legal in Arkansas?

Illegal. Recreational use is illegal; voters rejected legalization (Issue 4) in 2022, and the state Supreme Court blocked counting votes on a 2024 medical expansion measure.

Is medical cannabis legal in Arkansas?

Legal. Voter-approved 2016 program (Amendment 98) with licensed dispensaries statewide.

What can medical patients buy in Arkansas?

FlowerYesSmokingAllowedVapesYesEdiblesYes

Patients can buy flower, vapes, concentrates, edibles of up to 10 mg THC per portion and topicals, and patients 21 and older may smoke, though not in public places, vehicles or near children under 14 or pregnant women. Limits: Edibles are capped at 10 mg THC per portion (Health Department rules). Purchases are limited to 2.5 oz of usable marijuana per 14 days. No percentage potency cap was found.

What are the rules for hemp products in Arkansas?

Act 629 (2023) bans hemp products with delta-8, delta-10 and similar THC compounds and measures the 0.3% delta-9 THC limit against CBD content, not total weight; the Eighth Circuit vacated an injunction June 24, 2025, allowing enforcement.

Is delta-8 THC legal in Arkansas?

Banned. Act 629 bans delta-8, delta-10 and several other THC compounds in hemp products regardless of concentration; it does not bar continuous transportation of federally legal hemp through Arkansas.

What happens if you break the law in Arkansas?

First-offense possession under 4 oz is a Class A misdemeanor: up to 1 year jail and a $2,500 fine.

Sources

  1. arkansasag.gov/news-release/attorney-general-griffin-successfully-defends-arkansass-ban-on-dangerous-psychoactive-hemp-products/
  2. caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-8th-circuit/117417253.html
  3. www.mpp.org/states/arkansas
  4. norml.org/laws/arkansas-penalties/
  5. www.courtlistener.com/docket/67652494/bio-gen-llc-v-arkansas-state-of/
  6. ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/25/06/233237P.pdf
  7. healthy.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Medical-Marijuana-Rules-Clean.pdf
  8. norml.org/laws/arkansas-medical-marijuana-law/
  9. talkbusiness.net/2026/07/arkansas-medical-marijuana-sales-down-through-june/
  10. weedmaps.com/dispensaries/good-day-farm-little-rock-chenal
⚠︎ Federal law — affects every state A federal funding law signed in November 2025 (Public Law 119-37) narrows the legal definition of hemp, and a stopgap funding law signed September 2, 2026 (Public Law 119-103) split its start into two dates. On November 12, 2026, products containing cannabinoids that a cannabis plant cannot produce naturally, such as THC-O, fall outside it. The rest takes effect December 11, 2026, including the exclusion of chemically converted cannabinoids such as delta-8 made from CBD, a 0.3% limit measured as total THC (including THCA), and a limit of 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container. State rules apply on top of the federal law. Sources: Public Law 119-103, Sec. 2019 · Congressional Research Service · Akerman LLP
Informational summary drawn from state statutes, official program pages, and published reporting — sources linked per state. Not legal advice. Laws change quickly; verify with official state sources before acting. Spot an error? Request a correction — we fix mistakes promptly.
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