Arkansas Medical Marijuana Card Renewal 2026

Renewing your Arkansas medical marijuana card follows three straightforward steps:

Step 1: Get a New Physician Written Certification

In Arkansas, a new Physician Written Certification will be needed every time you renew. You cannot use the same certification that was used for the previous cycle. This certifying doctor needs to be an MD/DO who is licensed in Arkansas and holds a DEA registration. In addition, he or she should have a relationship with the patient, which means you should see the doctor at least once a month. The best part is that you can get your renewal certifications via telemedicine, and you do not have to go to the clinic like before.

Step 2: Submit Your Renewal Application Through the ADH Portal

After signing the Physician Written Certification, you will need to log in to your account on the Arkansas Medical Marijuana System (AMMYS) portal at mmj.adh.arkansas.gov. On your account, choose to renew your application, and then submit your new Physician Written Certification and a valid copy of your Arkansas photo identification, along with the $50 non-refundable renewal fee. Your payment must be made using either a debit or credit card, check, or money order (excluding American Express or cash). In case you had previously submitted your application by mail and therefore have no account online, you may still renew your application by mail.

Step 3: Wait for Approval

After your application is received along with the payment for your renewal, the process takes around 14 days. Once the process is approved, you can access the system and print your new card online right away, while the physical card will be sent out within the next business day after the approval. Early submission – at least 60 days before the expiration of your current card – is important to ensure continuity of access.

Yes. ADH’s recommended way for all renewal processes is using the Arkansas Medical Marijuana System (AMMS) website mmj.adh.arkansas.gov. This portal has taken over the old AMMSys portal, which no longer receives new applications and renewals. In case of any queries in the process, the ADH Medical Marijuana Section can be contacted from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at (501) 682-4982 or Toll-Free at 1-833-214-8619.

In the renewal process, patients initiate the process themselves in the portal, unlike many other states where the physician starts the process at his/her end first. In the process, the patient collects his/her new certification, logs into the portal, uploads, pays, and submits. It should be noted that in case the application is missing some information or is erroneous, ADH will return it to the patient.

The maximum validity of medical cannabis certificates in Arkansas is a period of one year after issuance, unless your doctor has set a shorter period of validity. Hence, all registered patients will be required to undergo an annual renewal process to ensure continuous access to state-regulated dispensing centers. Despite other states switching to 2 or 3-year certification cycle systems, Arkansas still maintains its annual certification requirement since the implementation of Amendment 98 in 2016.

Write down your expiration date when you obtain your certificate and remind yourself to go through the renewal process 60 days before your certificate expiration. This will give you enough time to schedule a consultation with your doctor and complete the entire renewal process.

Yes. A fresh Physician Written Certification by an Arkansas-licensed physician is mandatory for each renewal. The certifying physician must have a valid registration with the DEA for the handling of controlled substances and must be in good standing to practice his or her profession within the state of Arkansas. Certified physicians in Arkansas are limited to licensed MDs and Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), and not any of the other professionals, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

No. You don’t have to visit the same physician as you did the first time. You can get your renewal certification done from any qualifying Arkansas licensed physician since Act 1112 of 2021 allows telehealth for certification visits.

Renewal of a medical marijuana card in Arkansas is $50 for the state fees payable to ADH at the time your renewal application is being submitted. The amount of state fees is the same for the renewal as well as the initial application. Likewise, caregiver cards renew for $50, but apart from this, there will be an additional payment of $37 for the background check by non-parent caregiver.

In addition to state fees, you should set aside some budget for the telehealth physician consultation required to certify your eligibility each year. Consultation fees for a renewed card range from $100 to $200, depending upon the service provider, and therefore, your total expenses on an annual basis would be $150 to $250.

Renewing online is the ADH’s preferred method of renewal by 2026 using the Arkansas Medical Marijuana System portal at mmj.adh.arkansas.gov. This is the easiest and quickest way to renew. In case you’re unable to use online renewals, the mail-in renewal option is available. Please ensure that your completed renewal application form, photocopy of your photo ID issued by Arkansas, Physician Written Certification form, and $50 check/money order to the Arkansas Department of Health are sent to:

Arkansas Department of Health Medical Marijuana Section 4815 W. Markham St., Slot 50 Little Rock, AR 72205

Applications by mail also have the same processing period of 14 days from the time of submission, but due to the lack of an instant print of the card, mail applicants face the risk of having an empty period until the new card is received if their existing card expires.

An Arkansas dispensary will not automatically recognize a visiting patient’s medical marijuana ID from another state. A visiting patient needs to apply for an additional Arkansas Visiting Patient card via the AMMYS website. The visiting patient card will cost $50, have a validity of 90 days, and will need proof of the validity of their own medical marijuana card from their state for the same qualifying condition recognized by Arkansas law. The processing of the card may take up to 14 days.

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