SIGN UP FOR BREAKING NEWS Get local stories sent straight to your inbox as news breaks. Submit Privacy Notice

Arkansas patient cards take effect – but medical marijuana isn’t available here Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT MEDICAL MARIJUANA ID CARDS ARE IN EFFECT IN ARKANSAS. BUT, AS 40/29'S BRETT RAINS TELLS US RIGHT NOW, THE MORE THAN 7-THOUSAND PATIENTS IN ARKANSAS - CAN'T GET THEIR MEDICINE. BRETT IS LIVE IN POCOLA, OKLAHOMA WHERE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS BEING SOLD JUST A MINUTE'S DRIVE FROM THE BORDER. THIS DISPENSARY JUST OPENED AND IT'S LESS THAN A MILE FROM THE STATE LINE. ARKANSAS PATIENTS WITH THEIR ID CARDS CAN APPLY FOR A TEMPORARY CARD IN OKLAHOMA BUT IT TAKES SOME TIME AND MONEY. "I'm doing this because I want people to know that the veteran issue is real and this does help." STACEY STORMS IS A DISABLED OKLAHOMA VETERAN WHO USES MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO TREAT HER PTSD. "without it I'm not able to function like most people, I'm prone to panic attacks if I'm around too many people and I'm also prone to severe depression that can trigger at any time." SHE HAS A FAMILY MEMBER WITH SIMILAR SYMPTOMS WHO LIVES IN ARKANSAS. "it amazed him how quickly I was able to get my card and to get my medicine." THIS POCOLA DISPENSARY OPENED 2 WEEKS AGO. THE OWNERS SAY THEY AREN'T PATIENTS BUT THEY STUDIED UP ON THE BENEFITS OF THE DRUG AFTER THEIR PARENTS DIED FROM CANCER... AND THEY SUFFERED UNABLE TO CONTROL THEIR PAIN. "dad died 10 years ago, mom died 4 years ago and we learned, (voice breaks up) sorry, we learned since then that marijuana would have taken care of that, likely." "we would like to help people, that's our true motivation." AND THEY SAY THEY OFTEN HEAR FROM PATIENTS MINUTES AWAY .. BUT A STATE AWAY. "all the time, they're wanting their card they're trying to figure out how to get this done, people that really need it." "arkansas needs to get on the ball." NOW THAT ARKANSAS MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARDS ARE VALID, PATIENTS CAN APPLY FOR TEMPORARY CARDS IN OKLAHOMA. IT COSTS ONE- HUNDRED DOLLARS, AND LASTS FOR 30 DAYS AND ONCE APPROVED IT TAKES 14 DAYS TO GET THE TEMPORARY CARD. STORMS SAYS SHE KNOWS WHAT SOME OF HER FELLOW VETERANS ARE GOING THROUGH AND HOPES THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT MUCH LONGER. "our VA is having to struggle to find medications that help the veterans because they are trying to keep from giving them narcotics now, so they have to have something that will help them." IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING I ALSO ASKED THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA COMMISSION IF AN ARKANSAS CARD HOLDER IS LEGALLY ALLOWED TO POSESS MARIJUANA YET. THE ANSWER IS NO, BECAUSE A SPOKESPERSON SAYS IT MUST BE PURCHASED THROUGH AN ARKANSAS DISPENSARY AND IT MUST BE CLEARLY STATED ON THE PACKAGING. LIVE IN POCOLA BRETT RAINS 40/29 NEWS. THE SPOKESPERSON ALSO SAYS RIGHT NOW MEDICAL MARIJUANA COMMISSIONERS ARE NOT PLANNING ON EXTENDING THE TIME FRAME FOR RENEWING THE LICENSES THAT GO INTO EFFECT TODAY BUT EXPIRE ONE YEAR FROM NOW, EVEN THOUGH MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS NOT EXPECTED