Yes, in Arkansas, you can have CBD oil and other CBD items as long as they come from hemp and have 0.3% THC or less, like the federal law says. The Arkansas Industrial Hemp Act of 2017 made hemp legal and let its growth and production increase within the state. This Act also started the Arkansas Hemp Program for research and growing hemp. So, making and selling hemp-based CBD oil and similar products is legal in Arkansas.
Understanding Arkansas CBD Laws in 2024
Back in 2017, the Arkansas Industrial Hemp Act made it legal to produce hemp and hence, hemp-based CBD items. Under this law, you need a state license to grow or make hemp and its products, including CBD. A CBD item is legal if it:
- Gets approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Comes from industrial hemp as the state law describes
- Has 0.3% THC or less
- Doesn’t have any living hemp seeds or plants
In Arkansas, you can legally have, sell, and use hemp-based CBD items that meet these conditions under the Arkansas Industrial Hemp Act. But in 2019, the Arkansas Governor signed a law (HB 1518) that made the Arkansas CBD market more open. This law took hemp-based CBD off the state’s controlled substances list, even if the FDA hasn’t approved those CBD items yet. As of now, there are no new changes or future plans to change Arkansas CBD laws.
Arkansas CBD Possession Limits
Arkansas doesn’t limit how much hemp-based CBD oil or other hemp-based CBD items you can have. But, having CBD products with more than 0.3% THC is illegal in Arkansas and considered marijuana. It’s illegal to have any CBD item with over 0.3% THC outside the state’s medical marijuana program. In Arkansas, if you have a small amount of marijuana (less than 4 ounces) for the first time, it’s a Class A misdemeanor. This could mean a fine up to $2,500 or up to one year in jail. If you have marijuana again or have more than 4 ounces, it’s a felony, with up to a $15,000 fine and a maximum of 30 years in jail.
Can Doctors Give CBD Oil in Arkansas?
No, doctors in Arkansas can’t prescribe CBD oil even though it’s known for medical benefits. You don’t need a doctor’s prescription to get CBD oil or other hemp-based CBD products in the state. You can just walk into a store and buy them. Doctors can only suggest CBD, not prescribe it. Hemp-based CBD items are thought to help with things like pain, heart issues, epilepsy, mental disorders, and cancer.
How Old Do You Need to Be to Buy CBD in Arkansas?
Arkansas doesn’t have an age limit for buying CBD products. While there’s no law on age, most stores probably won’t sell CBD items to minors.
What are the Licensing Requirements for CBD in Arkansas?
Under the Arkansas Hemp Program, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture asks those who want to grow or process hemp for CBD and CBD products to get a license from the state. You need to fill out an application, pay a $50 non-refundable fee, and a $200 license fee if your application is approved. All hemp-CBD licenses must follow the federal 2018 Farm Bill, which means the CBD products can’t have more than 0.3% THC. Retailers don’t need a license to sell hemp-CBD items in Arkansas.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture also needs CBD license applicants to pay certain fees before giving out licenses. For example, they’ll send a fee invoice to approved processors and growers for their respective fees. Hemp growers will pay $100 for each greenhouse and another $100 for GPS verification for each location. Processors have to pay a $100 fee for GPS verification for each approved location.
Companies making CBD items in Arkansas need to know the labeling requirements. These include:
A warning from the FDA
- Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) label requirements like:
- What the product is
- The maker’s, packer’s, or distributor’s name and address
- Ingredients list, including hemp and CBD
- How much the product weighs
- How much cannabinoid is in each package or serving
- A website or QR code linked to details like product name, batch date, and ingredients
- A CBD label shouldn’t claim that the product can cure or treat diseases.
Where to Buy CBD in Arkansas?
You can find hemp-based CBD products, like CBD oil, in many stores like vape shops, wellness centers, grocery stores, and spas in Arkansas. You can also buy CBD items online in the state from Quiet Monk CBD.
Studies show that CBD might help with things like:
- Symptoms of mental health disorders
- Pain relief
- Some cancer-related symptoms
- Heart health, including lowering high blood pressure
- Neurological disorders like epilepsy
- Better sleep for those with certain sleep disorders
There are three types of CBD:
- Full spectrum CBD – Has all parts of the cannabis plant, including up to 0.3% THC
- Broad spectrum CBD – Has most parts of the cannabis plant but only trace amounts of THC
- CBD Isolates – The purest form, only has CBD, no THC or other parts of the cannabis plant
In Arkansas, you can find CBD in many forms like oil, capsules, tinctures, edibles, lotions, creams, and vapes. The 2018 Farm Bill made it legal to produce and sell hemp-based items, including CBD, in the U.S. But only hemp-based CBD products with 0.3% THC or less are legal. Any CBD item with more than 0.3% THC is considered marijuana and is illegal at the federal level. Similarly, any CBD item from the hemp plant with no more than 0.3% THC is legal in Arkansas.
What Does CBD Do?
Evidence shows that CBD has effects on the brain that help with epilepsy and mental health. It’s approved for managing certain seizures and might help with depression and insomnia. CBD is also used for chronic pain, lowering blood pressure, fighting inflammation, boosting appetite, and more.
Does CBD Show Up on Arkansas Drug Test?
No, but the THC in most CBD products might show up on cannabis drug tests. Arkansas allows CBD items with up to 0.3% THC. While this is a small amount, some CBD products might have more THC than they say. Even if you only use products with less than 0.3% THC, you might have enough THC in your body to fail a drug test. If you use CBD regularly or take a lot before a test, you might fail the test.
You can avoid failing a cannabis drug test by only using CBD items with 0% THC from trusted makers.