Arkansas is one of the few states in the United States that bring you a variety of amazing attractions, including the prospect of cannabis. Despite having highly regulated cannabis laws, Arkansas created a history when it legalized medical cannabis in the state.
Although the recreational use of cannabis is still illegal, we can’t deny the fact that even the legalization of medical cannabis was a breakthrough that no one expected to witness in the state of Arkansas. Known as Wonder State, Arkansas doesn’t allow users to grow cannabis inside their homes.
But, if you are a resident of Arkansas and plan on buying or growing marijuana seeds for medical use, we’d recommend that you keep reading the article. Growing cannabis in Arkansas comes with a lot of stipulations, something that we’d recommend you pay close attention to, especially if you don’t want to serve jail time.
This article will explore every last detail about the availability, growing, and laws surrounding cannabis in the state of Arkansas that you can consider exploring.
Cannabis in Arkansas – Overview of the Laws
Although medical cannabis is legal, there are a lot of stipulations and restrictions that come with the use and growing of cannabis in the state, especially for recreational use.
With so many different types of contradictions in the state’s cannabis laws, keeping up with legal and what’s not can be quite challenging. Don’t worry though because we have managed to sort out a basic overview of the laws and legalities surrounding cannabis in the state of Arkansas.
A quick overview means:
- Medical marijuana use is legal.
- Recreational marijuana use is legal.
- Growing cannabis from the seeds at home is illegal.
- Owning any type of cannabis-growing equipment in the state is illegal.
In short, if you have a medical condition that provides you with a medical card to access marijuana, you can possess and use them for your well-being. However, if you are planning to grow your weed in your home or anywhere in the state, that’s deemed illegal and will land you in jail.
Cannabis in Arkansas – Detailed Laws and Regulations
As we have mentioned until now, only medical cannabis is legal in Arkansas. This means that you need to have a medical card for cannabis possession as proof to legally possess and use cannabis in the state.
To acquire a medical card, one needs to get a direct doctor’s recommendation for the same. Also, patients who are under the age of 21 aren’t allowed to consume any kinds of herbal forms of cannabis.
Additionally, the consumption of cannabis in front of a pregnant female or front of a minor is illegal, irrespective of whether you have a medical card for it or not. Also, dispensaries can’t sell cannabis-infused food or drinks that contain over 10 mg of THC in it.
With a basic understanding of the medical marijuana laws in Arkansas, let us move ahead to explore the different penalties that are associated with the violation of any or all of these laws.
Possession penalties
The punishment for possession of marijuana in Arkansas depends on the amount of drug in the individual’s possession and also any history of conviction or past criminal record. Following are some of the misdemeanors associated with possessing marijuana in Arkansas.
- Possessing less than four ounces is considered a Class A misdemeanor.
- Possessing one ounce or more but less than four ounces with a previous convict or criminal record is considered a Class D misdemeanor.
- Possessing one ounce or more but less than ten pounds is considered a Class D felony.
- Possessing ten pounds or more but having less than 25 pounds is considered a Class C felony.
- Possessing 25 pounds or more but less than 100 pounds is considered a Class B felony.
- Possessing 100 pounds or more but less than 500 pounds is considered a Class A felony.
- Possessing 500 pounds or more is marijuana trafficking, and is considered a Class Y felony.
Delivery, Sale, and Trafficking Penalties
Delivery, sale, and trafficking of marijuana in Arkansas are considered illegal. So, indulging in any form of these acts will either land you in jail or impose a hefty fine.
- Selling 14 gms or less is a Class A misdemeanor.
- Selling more than 14 gms but less than four ounces is a Class D felony.
- Selling over four ounces but less than 25 pounds is a Class C felony.
- Selling over 25 pounds but less than 100 pounds is a Class B felony.
- Selling over 100 pounds but less than 500 pounds is a Class A felony.
Selling or delivery of over 500 pounds of marijuana in Arkansas is considered marijuana trafficking and is a Class Y felony. The penalties are also dependent on the age of the individual.
Enhanced Penalties
Besides these primary penalties on marijuana consumption and selling in Arkansas, there are enhanced penalties that are put in place for specific situations. They include:
This involves extended terms of imprisonment for defendants who have prior felony convictions or other criminal records under their name.
Besides the standard penalties, Arkansas also imposes an additional 10 years of incarceration for delivery, cultivation, or trafficking for individuals who indulge in 1000 feet of public facilities, like city, state park, schools, school bus stop, public housing project, etc.
How is the Cannabis Culture in Arkansas?
Despite being known as the wonder state, cannabis culture in Arkansas isn’t that pleasant, especially due to the restrictions. You need to be clear on the fact that only medical cannabis is legal in Arkansas. Any kind of other use of cannabis is considered illegal and will land you in jail if you try otherwise.
So, when it comes to the cannabis culture in the state, it is pretty down, especially because of the lack of availability of cannabis in the state.
Besides that, cannabis cultivation is illegal in the state as well, which means that you blindly rely on seed banks in Arkansas and call it a day. You need to be extremely cautious about the steps you follow through when it comes to the use of cannabis in the state.
Is Growing Cannabis Seeds in Arkansas Legal?
Cultivating cannabis in Arkansas comes with a lot of complications. One of the biggest issues lies with the laws and regulations. Also, Arkansas has hot and humid weather, which means that growing a strain that can sustain such a sharply changing weather condition can be challenging to work through.
However, with medical marijuana being legal in the state, we can very well hope that the same will also pave the way for growing cannabis in the state for recreational purposes.
But, until then, you need to keep in mind that cultivating marijuana at home, even with a medical card and license, is prohibited by law. If found otherwise, you might end up in jail for the issue.
So, the following growing and sprouting tips might come in handy later when Arkansas legalizes the cultivation of cannabis seeds in the state.
When Is the Right Time to Sprout Cannabis Seeds?
Arkansas isn’t blessed with a very pleasant climate. Most of the suitable summer months when you can grow cannabis have a very hot and humid climate, which might not be as pleasant as you think it would be.
Also, since Arkansas is nestled in the Southern part of the country, it isn’t surprising that the hot, humid, and tepid weather conditions last throughout the year, even during the summer months.
So, that ensures that you can more or less grow cannabis any time of the year without needing to worry about frost or any other kinds of damage. But, that’s a thought for the future when cannabis cultivation is passed by law in Arkansas and you can legally grow the plant without any worry.
If you do eventually plan to grow cannabis outdoors, the month of April is the best time. Unless they are auto-flowering seeds, which produce the plants quite quickly, we’d recommend that you germinate them during May for higher yield from the process.
But, if you do end up growing marijuana indoors, under a controlled environment, you can do so throughout the year without any hassle.
However, all of this will only come to fruition when Arkansas passes the law for the cultivation of cannabis in the state. Until then, you can garner this theoretical knowledge to sail you through the process.
What are the Best Growing Tips for Cannabis in Arkansas?
Now that you have a basic idea about the cannabis laws and some of the overview of cultivating cannabis in the Wonder State, let us focus on some of the best growing tips.
These aren’t legal now for you to implement. Cultivating marijuana is still illegal in the state of Arkansas. So, even if you explore the Arkansas seed banks to have possession of cannabis seeds, you can’t grow them at home as of now.
Some of the important factors worth considering when it comes to growing cannabis are:
Theft risks
Arkansas has stringent laws when it comes to the cultivation of marijuana in the state. Since its illegal, it isn’t surprising that their cannabis black market is currently booming. That said, once cannabis cultivation is legalized, growing this plant will come with certain potential risks.
If you do want to grow the plant safely, we’d recommend either choosing indoor growing or being very secure about growing the strains outdoors. If you are growing cannabis outdoors, ensure that you have a high-end alarm system enabled. You can also enable a camera system for your home to ensure everything is safe and secure.
Weather adjustment
Arkansas is nestled in the deeper South end of the United States. This means that the weather conditions are pretty hot and tepid throughout the year. If you don’t want to make matters worse for your cannabis cultivation, we’d highly recommend you focus on growing a strain that will thrive in the local climate.
During the growing season, Arkansas also experiences tornadoes, which can be damaging when you are growing them outdoors.
So, when it comes to buying cannabis seeds from the Arkansas seed banks in Arkansas, we’d recommend you look for weather-resistant strains that will perform well in hot and humid climate conditions.
Pests and diseases
The humid climate in Arkansas means that the strains are very susceptible to the risks of molds, pests, and diseases. You might notice a heightened risk of molds and mildews on the plants, which will put all your efforts to waste.
So, the best way to avoid that risk will be by buying strains that are pest and disease resistant and will thrive in the kind of climate conditions that you have going around. If you notice any signs of damage, spraying pesticide and fungicide should work well.
Buy high-quality cannabis seeds
It doesn’t matter how much effort you are putting into growing cannabis in Arkansas, everything will go to waste if you don’t buy high-quality cannabis seeds. It isn’t a choice but a necessity for you to ensure that you are getting high-quality yield and good-quality cannabis buds in the end.
The availability of marijuana seeds in Arkansas might be sparing in the local dispensaries since recreational marijuana use and cultivation is illegal in the state. However, you always have the online seed banks to get your fix of cannabis seeds and wait until the laws are reversed to be able to grow cannabis at your convenience.
Plan the process
The last tip we’d recommend you follow when it comes to growing cannabis in Arkansas is to plan things ahead of time. Keep in mind that none of these tips are focused on cannabis cultivation at this point. It is still illegal in Arkansas for you to grow cannabis, so that’s out of the question.
However, when cannabis is eventually legalized in the state, that’s when we’d recommend that you plan things ahead of time before you end up cultivating your harvest at home.
Also, even when your seeds arrive quicker, give them some time before you plan to germinate and plant them in the garden outdoors or indoors.
Where to Buy Cannabis Seeds in Arkansas?
Cultivating cannabis in Arkansas is not legal in the state, meaning that your hunt for a new Arkansas based seed bank in your local area is next to impossible. You can’t expect any local dispensaries to function in the state, especially where there is a ban on the recreational use of marijuana.
Even for the ones with medical needs, the accessibility of cannabis is highly regulated and often done via hospitals to ensure that nothing is done illegally.
If you are readying your stock for growing cannabis in Arkansas later when things are legalized, we’d highly recommend that you take your time and find the best quality seeds from reliable sources and online seed banks.
Since local dispensaries aren’t functional in the state, some of the best online seed banks that you can explore are:
Since medical marijuana is legal in Arkansas, you will find multiple outlets and dispensaries that sell cannabis, provided you can show proof of the medical card and have all the licenses and registrations you’d need to buy from these stores.
What do we know about the Legalities of Cannabis Seeds and Seed Banks in Arkansas?
Simply knowing where to buy marijuana seeds in Arkansas isn’t enough, especially when you don’t have a clear idea about the associated legalities with the cannabis seeds and seed banks in the state.
Cultivating cannabis in any and every form in Arkansas is illegal. This means that you can’t possess any kind of cannabis-growing equipment at home. This includes grow rooms, grow lights, etc.
Also, due to the illegalities of cannabis cultivation in the state, there aren’t any active cannabis dispensaries selling cannabis seeds in the state. There is no jurisdiction regarding online seed banks since they are located elsewhere in the United States.
How is the Cannabis Industry in Arkansas?
Arkansas currently has only legalized medical marijuana, which means that only patients with severe medical conditions can avail of and use cannabis to relieve their symptoms and feel better.
As of now, around 77,000 residents are registered medical marijuana patients in Arkansas. If you are worried about the cannabis industry in Arkansas, be assured that it’s doing quite well.
Just in 2022, the local dispensaries selling medical marijuana raked around $175+ million worth of cannabis sales. So, it goes to show that people are no wonder consuming cannabis in large quantities, despite only 77,000 of them having been medically licensed for it.
With the positive inflow of support and revenue in the cannabis industry from the medical cannabis supply, there are chances that Arkansas might soon legalize the use of recreational cannabis too. However, there are no reports as to when it will happen and if it will happen.
Is there a Black Market for Cannabis in Arkansas?
Despite having a booming medical marijuana industry in Arkansas, the black market in the state is quite booming too. The main reason behind the issue is the lack of legalization of recreational marijuana use and marijuana cultivation in the state.
The worst part about the cannabis black market growth in the state of Arkansas is the fact that nothing is regulated. This means that the quality of the cannabis strains is quite questionable in that lot.
Most of them aren’t genetically tested, which is another reason why blindly buying cannabis from the Arkansas black market isn’t advisable. It can put your health at risk and make things worse for your well-being instead of making you feel better in the moment.
What are the Best Strains to Grow in Arkansas?
Growing marijuana at home or in any part of the state of Arkansas is illegal, especially for personal or recreational use. So, if you are sitting there thinking that you will be able to grow any kind of strain without any legal repercussions, you are highly mistaken.
That’s the first thing we’d recommend you pay close attention to. But, the reason why we are sorting out a list of the best strains to grow in AK is for future reference when the state finally legalizes the cultivation of cannabis in the state.
Some of the best strains that are worth growing in Arkansas are:
Afghan KushIf you are looking for a fast-flowering and easy-to-grow strain in the humid climate of Arkansas, we’d recommend checking out Afghan Kush as your first option.
The strain takes around 6-8 weeks to flower, following which you can go ahead and extract the best-quality harvest without any complications at all. Just ensure that you set up the area for its growth. Ideally, you don’t want to grow them anywhere without any preparation.
Since the strain is susceptible to mold and diseases, growing it under the right circumstances and growing environment is very crucial too. It does thrive in the mild climate that’s native to the state of Arkansas, so you won’t have to worry about anything at all.
This is one of the few cannabis strains with very high THC levels, which means that you will feel the strain hit right after a single drag. It leaves a cerebral high, which is a full-body high and perfect for conversations and to relax and relieve any sorts of pain or discomfort you are dealing with.
1. Do-Si-Dos Feminized Seed Strain
Since Arkansas experiences a hot and humid climate almost throughout the year, it isn’t surprising that Do-Si-Dos Feminized Seed Strain deserves a special mention in the list.
This is one of those few strains that have incredible after-effects when you are done smoking it. But, that’s not all, the strain is equally easy to grow as well. You can grow it indoors or you can grow it outdoors, depending on what you think would work best for you.
If you are a beginner who doesn’t have a lot of ideas about growing cannabis strains and want to dive right into it after Arkansas legalizes cannabis, this is the strain you can blindly rely on. The hash-infused berry flavor in the strain is another reason why it has gained the kind of popularity that it has.
Since these are feminized seeds, the yield is immaculate too, further adding to the efforts that you put into growing the strain from scratch. Just ensure that you take care of the entire individual growing parameters since those matters a lot.
2. Blue Dream
When it comes to growing cannabis, you can’t have a great experience if you aren’t indulging in a Sativa-dominant strain. Blue Dream works effortlessly, meaning that this strain will work quite well in Arkansas weather too.
The strain is ideal for growing outdoors, which means that it isn’t the easiest strain to grow if you don’t have prior experience with cannabis.
It can thrive in the ever changing climate of Arkansas, so you can grow it and enjoy the yield without any complications at all. Despite requiring very close attention, the individual growing parameters for Blue Dream aren’t that specific, which means that it’s quite low-maintenance.
Once you are done planting it, you can call it a day and watch it grow without any hassle at all. Blue Dream is also one of the few Sativa strains that produce a high yield. The plant typically grows up to 13 feet tall and you can expect incredible yield, which can also be up to 20 ounces per plant.
The only issues with the growing Blue Dream are the lack of resilience. It is not a very hardy strain, which means that it’s quite susceptible to pests and diseases. You might witness that it’s quite prone to be attacked by pests.
3. Black Domina Feminized Seed Strain
Another underrated yet amazing cannabis strain worth growing in Arkansas is the Black Domina Feminized Seed Strain. This one isn’t always a grower’s first choice and the main reason is due to the lack of popularity of this strain.
But, this feminized seed strain is quite compatible with the climate and external growing conditions in Arkansas. It has a very high THC level and produces a high yield, which ensures that a single harvest can bring you a lot of yields that can last you for a long period.
Besides being a feminized seed strain, this is also a quick flowering plant, which means that it takes around 8 weeks for the strain to flower without any hassle. It doesn’t require much time for the trichome-covered buds to appear on the plant.
Not just outdoors, the strain works effortlessly indoors as well. The strain typically grows up to a medium height, which means that you can comfortably grow it indoors without any worries at all.
Overall, the strain has a very enticing flavor and fruity notes in the strain, which is quite prominent for a cannabis strain for beginners.
4. Northern Lights
Next up on the list is the Northern Lights, which takes around 7-9 weeks to flower and later harvest in no time at all. Also, the strain typically grows up to 7 feet in height, meaning that it makes a great choice for impatient growers.
Like a few other marijuana strains, Northern Lights are an incredibly resilient strain that’s easy to grow without any hassle at all. But, since Arkansas has a very humid climate, it isn’t surprising that mold complications are quite prevalent.
Just ensure that you focus on growing the strain somewhere with proper ventilation and air regulation inside the room. The lack of ventilation is what leads to complaints of molding and pest infestation in the plants.
Compared to many of the other cannabis strains, Northern Lights has a low THC of 15%. Also, the flavor note is quite subtle and fruity, making it a great choice for beginner smokers who don’t have a lot of experience smoking marijuana and don’t want to be hit with the strong flavor and smoke of the cannabis strain.
How to Find High-quality Cannabis Seeds in Arkansas?
As we have talked about time and time, cannabis seeds and their possessing in Arkansas aren’t illegal. But, using those seeds to cultivate cannabis in Arkansas is illegal and can land you in prison.
Since online seed banks are accessible in Arkansas for cannabis seeds, we’d recommend that you only look into online seed banks with good reputations. The last thing you want to do is invest your money in a seed bank that doesn’t have good reliability and a market name.
That aside, also keep a check on the kind of strains you are buying. Even with the seeds, you want to splurge on high-quality and resilient strains that will be good to germinate in the future when Arkansas finally decides to legalize the use of recreational cannabis in the state.
Until then, you’d have to depend on online reviews and testimonials or recommendations from friends and family while buying cannabis seeds.
Are there chances of Arkansas Legalizing Recreational Cannabis?
The legalization of medical cannabis in Arkansas was quite a breakthrough and created history in the state.
Whether or not Arkansas will legalize recreational cannabis and cannabis cultivation in the state will depend on how things pan out in the future. With the positive inflow of revenue from medical cannabis yearly, it isn’t surprising that the cannabis industry in the state is quite literally booming.
So, if you are hopeful that the state will legalize the use of recreational cannabis in the future, you aren’t wrong in thinking so at all.
Conclusion
Arkansas has very contradictory laws when it comes to cannabis. However, we hope that this article gives you all the insights that you likely need to familiarize yourself with the availability and use of cannabis in the state. Just ensure that you keep a check on the quality of the cannabis seeds you are purchasing. That’s what makes all the difference in the long run.
