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The Arkansas medical marijuana program is in full swing for 2022, just two years since the announcement of its first dispensary.
It will soon be the renewal date for many patients who previously registered for an Arkansas medical marijuana card, and if you miss your renewal period, you could have to qualify for a brand new card altogether.
In this article, we’ll cover renewing your medical marijuana card in Arkansas, so you can make sure you don’t miss the right window for your renewal!
Check Your Card for Your Renewal Date
Figuring out when you’ll need to renew your Arkansas medical marijuana card is very easy.
All you need to do is simply look at your medical marijuana card, and on the right side of the card, you will have sections 4a and 4b.
Section 4a is titled “ISS” for issued (on), and section 4b is titled “EXP” for expires (on).
The EXP will tell you the last day your card is good, but you’ll want to renew your card long before the actual cutoff date to make sure you’re not late. Again, if you’re late, you have to submit an initial application all over again.
When Should You Renew Your Arkansas Medical Marijuana Card?
Although you have one year from the time your card is issued, you won’t have a very big window to renew your card in Arkansas.
Currently, the department that processes Arkansas medical marijuana cards is very small, so patient card registrations often happen in large batches. As Arkansas medical marijuana patients, it’s very important to complete your renewal appointment at an acceptable time.
The state warns it may take up to 10-14 days to process medical marijuana card renewals, but some renewals may take longer if there are any mistakes or unclear marks on the paperwork.
You should probably try to renew your card around one month before it expires to ensure you’ll renew it in time.
How to Renew Your Medical Marijuana Card the Easy Way
Use Telemedicine to Renew Your Medical Marijuana Card in Arkansas
Initial telehealth certifications are not presently allowed in Arkansas, however, telehealth is available for medical marijuana card renewals in 2022! This is great news for patients looking to renew their card without traveling to a doctor’s office or waiting in line for hours.
You can safely renew your medical marijuana certification in Arkansas by consulting with one of our physicians online who will help you handle the doctor’s side of renewing your medical marijuana certification.
Just like your initial certification, all you’ll do is consult with a qualified physician who will sign off on you renewal, but thankfully you can do this online.
File Your Renewal with the State
After successfully consulting with a doctor and receiving your approval for a medical marijuana card renewal, you’ll need to file the renewal with the state the same way you applied for your initial certification.
You can file your renewal with the state online by going to the Arkansas Department of Health’s medical marijuana portal and clicking “apply online”. There, you’ll be able to login to your existing account from when you initially filed for your card.
On your portal, you’ll be able to see the status of your card, your card’s expiration date, and any pending or outstanding requirements for your application.
To submit your application for renewal, complete the appropriate form and pay the $50 fee. That’s it!
What to do After Renewing Your Medical Marijuana Card in Arkansas
If you’ve successfully processed your renewal through the online portal, all that’s really left to do is wait.
You should open the portal from time to time and check on the status of your renewal, though most applications are approved in 10-14 days. If you notice it’s been over 14 days since an update on your application, you can contact the Department of Health’s Toll-Free number at 1-833-214-8619 or 501-682-4982.
In some cases, if there’s missing or inaccurate information in your application, you may need to make adjustments. This can delay the approval of your card renewal, so be sure to stay on top of everything while your application is processing.
As long as you’re still within the window before your card officially expires, you’ll be able to continue purchasing cannabis products without a hitch. If your card expires before the renewal is completed, you’ll need to wait for your new card to be approved before visiting the dispensary or you may have to resubmit an initial application entirely.
Once your card is approved, you should dispose of your previous card and only bring your new card to the dispensary. They will make a copy of your updated card, and then you’re good for another year!
Become an Arkansas Marijuana Patient
Arkansas offers a comprehensive medical marijuana program that allows patients with qualifying conditions to possess and use cannabis legally. Applying for a medical marijuana certification is easy and renewing your medical marijuana card will keep you legal!
Qualifying Arkansas patients can schedule an appointment to renew their medical marijuana card with one of our certified physicians and continue using medical marijuana as an alternative treatment.
We’re dedicated to helping patients every step of the way! Feel free to give us a call at 844-249-8714, and we can answer your questions about getting medical marijuana in Arkansas.
Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.
Helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
If you have any questions, call us at 844-249-8714, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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