Cannabis Dispensaries in Texarkana, Arkansas

Named after the three states over which the town sprawls, Texarkana is a mix of cultures from Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana — and, fortunately, the Arkansas side boasts this state’s more lenient medical marijuana regulations. Recreational cannabis remains illegal across Texarkana, but you can still legally buy cannabis by visiting a medical Texarkana dispensary.

Cannabis Laws to Know in Texarkana

Currently, no state in the American Southeast permits recreational cannabis consumption, possession, or sale, and Arkansas’s cannabis laws follow this pattern by punishing recreational use with high fines and jail time. Fortunately, Arkansas does boast a relatively lenient medical marijuana program — especially compared to the stringent rules for medical marijuana consumption maintained by neighboring Texas and Louisiana.

Medical Marijuana

Texarkana dispensaries for medical marijuana have been operational on the Arkansas side of town since 2020, despite that Arkansas voters approved a medical marijuana amendment back in 2016. Today, cardholding medical patients can possess up to 2.5 ounces of dry cannabis purchased from a licensed Texarkana dispensary. Patients are not allowed to cultivate cannabis at home, and unlicensed cultivation carries strict penalties across the state.

Patients 18 and older can register for a medical marijuana card in the state, and minors can apply with consent from a parent or caregiver. However, members of the Arkansas National Guard and U.S. Military are prohibited from participation in the program. Arkansas does offer reciprocity, which means medical marijuana cardholders from other states can apply for a visitor’s pass to access legal cannabis from dispensaries in Texarkana.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Texarkana

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission, managed by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADOH), oversees medical marijuana applications from Arkansas residents of Texarkana. To apply, patients need a written certification from an Arkansas physician of diagnosis of one of 12 qualifying conditions, a list of which is available on the ADOH website. Patients also need to prove residency in Arkansas with a copy of an Arkansas driver’s license or state ID card. 

The application can be submitted online, along with a $50 processing fee. Cards are delivered to approved patients within 10 to 14 days. Cards are valid for one year and require renewal before their expiration date. Only once a patient has a valid card in hand can they legally visit and make purchases from a Texarkana dispensary.

Where Is It Legal to Consume Cannabis in Texarkana?

Even with a medical cannabis card, patients are permitted to consume cannabis only within the privacy of their homes, with landowner permission. Any consumption within view of the public is strictly prohibited.

How to Buy Cannabis at a Texarkana Dispensary

Because Texarkana dispensaries exclusively serve medical patients, visitors are required to bring their valid marijuana cards as well as photo IDs during their visit. Many dispensaries function more like pharmacies, serving customers one-on-one, so patients might want to bring relevant information about their condition to help budtenders recommend the right cannabis products. Dispensaries in Texarkana are typically open from around 10AM to 8PM. Unfortunately, delivery and curbside pickup are prohibited.

How Much Does Cannabis Cost in Texarkana?

In a Texarkana dispensary, patients can expect to pay about $15 for a gram of dry flower and roughly twice that for a gram of concentrated cannabis, depending on the quality and potency of the product.

Cannabis Taxes in Texarkana

Patients purchasing from a Texarkana dispensary are subject to two state taxes and a city tax. Arkansas levies a sales tax of 6.5% and a “privilege” tax of 4%, while Texarkana collects an additional 5% tax. A large portion of these taxes go to maintaining the medical marijuana program across the state, but some funds cancer research at the University of Arkansas.