Medical marijuana will become legal in the state of Arkansas, voters decided Tuesday. Issue 6 will allow the distribution of marijuana to treat some approved medical conditions. Issue 6 was one of two medical marijuana issues placed on the ballot. The other, Issue 7, was disqualified by the State Supreme Court after early voting had already begun. Arkansans will not immediately be able to purchase medical marijuana. The Arkansas Constitution states that ballot measures take effect on the 30th day after the election. After that date, the Arkansas Department of Health would have 120 days to adopt. This means the rules might not go into effect until April 2017. Patients would also have to wait until approved dispensaries are opened. Arkansas’ Alcohol Beverage Control would regulate the dispensaries. Issue 6 calls for at least 20 but no more than 40 dispensaries across the state. Once dispensaries are opened, patients will still need to get a special ID card to purchase the marijuana. Patients will have to have one of the following qualifying medical conditions: CancerGlaucomaPositive status for HIV/AIDSHepatitis CAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)Tourette’s snydromeCrohn’s diseaseUlcerative colitisPTSDSevere arthritisFibromyalgiaAlzheimer’s disease The Arkansas Department of Health will be allowed to approve other medical conditions. A patient without one of these specific conditions might still be able to qualify if they experience certain types of pain that does not respond to ordinary medication without severe side effects.

Medical marijuana will become legal in the state of Arkansas, voters decided Tuesday.

Issue 6 will allow the distribution of marijuana to treat some approved medical conditions.

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Issue 6 was one of two medical marijuana issues placed on the ballot. The other, Issue 7, was disqualified by the State Supreme Court after early voting had already begun.



Arkansans will not immediately be able to purchase medical marijuana. The Arkansas Constitution states that ballot measures take effect on the 30th day after the election. After that date, the Arkansas Department of Health would have 120 days to adopt. This means the rules might not go into effect until April 2017.

Patients would also have to wait until approved dispensaries are opened. Arkansas’ Alcohol Beverage Control would regulate the dispensaries. Issue 6 calls for at least 20 but no more than 40 dispensaries across the state.

Once dispensaries are opened, patients will still need to get a special ID card to purchase the marijuana. Patients will have to have one of the following qualifying medical conditions:

Cancer

Glaucoma

Positive status for HIV/AIDS

Hepatitis C

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Tourette’s snydrome

Crohn’s disease

Ulcerative colitis

PTSD

Severe arthritis

Fibromyalgia

Alzheimer’s disease

The Arkansas Department of Health will be allowed to approve other medical conditions.

A patient without one of these specific conditions might still be able to qualify if they experience certain types of pain that does not respond to ordinary medication without severe side effects.