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Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) and cannabis in Arkansas

The state currently does not list this condition as qualifying, and the program does not provide open-ended physician discretion to add conditions. Verify with the state regulator, because programs change.

Not on the qualifying list
✗ No
LEGAL
Up to 2.5 oz over any 1…
POSSESSION
$50/yr
STATE FEE
7–21 d
TIMELINE
Not on the qualifying list. The state currently does not list this condition as qualifying, and the program does not provide open-ended physician discretion to add conditions. Verify with the state regulator, because programs change.

Arkansas statute and program

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Program is the operating authority for Arkansas patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: Ark. Code Ann. §5-64-419: Possession of a controlled substance (marijuana penalty schedule).

What the evidence says about cannabis and Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly called lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces autoantibodies that attack the body's own tissues. Inflammation can affect joints, skin, kidneys, blood, lungs, heart, and the nervous system. Lupus is a relapsing-remitting disease — patients experience flares and periods of relative quiescence.

For the full evidence base, including the NASEM tier, randomized trial summaries, and symptom-domain breakdown, read the mmjnow Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) page.

How to qualify in Arkansas

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Program requires the following registration steps for a Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):

  1. Get a written certification from an Arkansas-licensed physician. Any Arkansas-licensed MD or DO with an active DEA registration may issue a written certification under Arkansas Amendment 98 (Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016). No special physician registration is required. Qualifying conditions include cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, Tourette’s, Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, PTSD, severe arthritis, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s, chronic pain not addressed by other treatment, severe nausea, seizures, intractable pain, and others added by the Arkansas Department of Health.
  2. Submit your application to the Arkansas Department of Health. The patient mails or uploads the Patient Application Form, the Physician Written Certification, a copy of an Arkansas driver license or state ID, a passport-style photograph, and the registration fee to the Arkansas Department of Health Medical Marijuana Section. Online submission is available through the ADH portal.
  3. Pay the $50 state registration fee. The annual patient registration fee is $50 (one-year) or $100 (two-year). Caregivers register separately for an additional $50 each and undergo a state and federal background check.
  4. Receive the registry card and purchase from an Arkansas dispensary. Arkansas medical marijuana registry cards are typically issued within 14 days of complete application receipt. With the card, patients may purchase up to 2.5 ounces every 14 days from any of the licensed Arkansas dispensaries. Arkansas honors out-of-state medical cannabis cards from visiting patients for in-state purchase under Amendment 98 (90-day visiting-patient registration).
State registration fee
$50
Physician visit (typical)
$200–$300
Certification to card
7–21 days
Out-of-state patients
Eligible
Minors
Eligible with caregiver

For full Arkansas registration steps, fees, and reciprocity rules, see the Arkansas cannabis-laws page.

ICD-10 code

A certifying physician documenting Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) for the Arkansas medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 M32.9 or SNOMED-CT 55464009 in the patient's record. The state registry does not itself collect ICD-10 codes in most programs, but the physician's chart is the audit trail if the certification is later reviewed.

Frequently asked questions

Does Arkansas list Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

No. Arkansas's qualifying-condition list does not currently include Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), and the state's program does not give physicians open-ended discretion to add conditions outside the list. Patients with Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) in Arkansas have limited in-state pathways under the medical program as written. Options to verify and pursue include: petitioning the state regulator to add the condition (where the statute permits public petitions); consulting a physician about whether a co-occurring listed condition could support certification; or reviewing whether the state's program is undergoing legislative expansion. Arkansas program rules change, so verify the current list with the regulator before drawing a final conclusion.

How do I get a Arkansas medical marijuana card for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)?

Because Arkansas does not currently list Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) as a qualifying condition, a card for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) alone may not be obtainable in-state under the program rules as written. Step one is finding a physician licensed in Arkansas who is registered with Arkansas Medical Marijuana Program and willing to evaluate Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) cases. Step two is collecting your records (diagnosis documentation, treatment history, and the ICD-10 code your physician will use) and bringing them to the certification visit. Step three is the physician's certification through the state registry, followed by the patient registration application, state fee, and waiting period before the card is issued. Arkansas honors out-of-state medical cards under its reciprocity rules — uncommon, and worth verifying before relying on it. Verify the patient minimum age with the state program before applying. Confirm the current process with the state regulator before applying, because the rules change.

What does the evidence say about cannabis for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)?

For Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), evidence is described as limited (a small number of supportive studies, often underpowered or focused on narrow symptom domains). The mmjnow condition page for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) lays out the current evidence base, including the citations underlying that evidence tier — typically the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consensus reports, federal agency guidance, and peer-reviewed reviews. Evidence quality is independent of state law: a state can list a condition for which evidence is limited, and a state can decline to list a condition for which evidence is strong. Patients deciding whether to pursue medical cannabis for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) should review the underlying evidence (linked on the condition page) and discuss expected benefit, dosing, and risk with a clinician familiar with both Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) and cannabinoid pharmacology. Cannabis is not a substitute for evidence-based first-line treatments for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus); the evidence position above describes whether trial data supports its use, not whether it should replace standard care.

Sources

  1. Arkansas Constitution Amendment 98: Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016accessed May 16, 2026
  2. Arkansas Department of Health: Medical Marijuanaaccessed May 16, 2026
  3. Wikipedia: Cannabis in Arkansasaccessed May 16, 2026
  4. Ark. Code Ann. §5-64-419: Possession of a controlled substance (marijuana penalty schedule)accessed May 17, 2026
  5. Amendment 98 to the Arkansas Constitution: Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment (2016)accessed May 17, 2026
  6. Arkansas Department of Health: Medical Marijuana Programaccessed May 17, 2026
  7. Arkansas State Plant Board: Industrial Hemp Programaccessed May 17, 2026
  8. NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Lupusaccessed May 18, 2026
  9. NASEM: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2017)accessed May 18, 2026

    “Substantial evidence that cannabis or cannabinoids are effective for chronic pain in adults.”

  10. Lupus Foundation of America: Marijuana and Lupusaccessed May 18, 2026
  11. American College of Rheumatology: 2023 Guideline for SLE Management (executive summary)accessed May 18, 2026
  12. MedlinePlus: Systemic lupus erythematosusaccessed May 18, 2026