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Arkansas is home to a handful of dispensaries legally allowed to operate in the state. First opening in 2019, only a limited number of dispensaries are granted licenses to operate in Arkansas.
Qualifying patients can visit any one of the 32 legally operating dispensaries and purchase their medical cannabis. However, with such a tight hold on the number of dispensaries & cultivators in the state, medical marijuana prices in Arkansas are some of the highest in the country.
Every dollar saved can go a long way, and in this article we’ll cover discounts & reward programs for Arkansas Dispensaries
Arkansas Cannabis Prices: Why Are They So High?
Quite frankly, discounts are hard to come by for Arkansas marijuana patients. And although cannabis taxes are somewhat lower in the state, the retail pricing for cannabis products is astronomical in Arkansas. This is in large part due to the political stranglehold Arkansas government has enacted with restrictive legislation limiting the number of cultivators & dispensaries, and their “management” of your tax dollars.
The Arkansas cannabis market looks dismal in comparison to the neighboring Oklahoma market, where there are over 2,200 dispensaries, and nearly 2,400 cultivation permits issued in 2020 alone.
Compare that to Arkansas, which allows 40 total dispensaries and 8 total cultivation facilities in the whole state and you can start to see why the monopoly on marijuana is so strong in Arkansas.
Add in the extra 4% special privilege tax that Governor Asa Hutchinson believes was “immediately necessary” under the premise of a “declared emergency” and you can start to paint a clear picture of why patients are paying absurd prices for their medicine.
It doesn’t get too much prettier, when funding is overflowing so much that they’re creating new trust funds to move that extra cash in, it’s obvious that legislators are strangling every last drop of cash they can, disregarding the cost to patients along the way.
When the Department of Finance and Administration projects $13.3 million in tax revenue from medical cannabis sales and pledges all but $900,000 of it to UAMS, it’s pretty obvious that very little money is going towards the medical marijuana infrastructure that the special privilege tax was designed for.
Clearly the priorities for the state are not focused on medical marijuana patients when it comes to cash flow. This unfortunate reality makes any amount you can save on your medicine a top priority for patients.
Some dispensaries have created discount programs and reward programs to help combat the insanely high prices. They’re being squeezed by legislation as well, so you’re not going to find 50% off coupons laying around, but there are some discounts available to those in need, and those who are repeat customers.
How To Find Arkansas Dispensary Discounts
There are two ways to find discounts at Arkansas dispensaries, the first one is Weedmaps.
Weedmaps
Weedmaps is one of the best cannabis apps for patients, their app and site includes dispensary menus, strain information, and deals near you.
The “Deals” page is where you’ll find all your daily & weekly specials, and often there are some good discounts to be found. These deals will change frequently and you will occasionally see an expired discount on this page.
Weedmaps does a great job of working with dispensaries to stay up to date on what the current promos are, and I’ve personally found them very useful. Their menu section can be a little out of date due to the nature of how fast strains fly off the shelf in Arkansas, otherwise the service is mostly up to date.
The “Deals” section of their site and app will cover all of the dispensaries in Arkansas that list with Weedmaps, and most of the operating dispensaries do list their menu, promos, and info with them.
Since these deals are often special offers, they don’t stick around for a long time, so take advantage of them when you can.
You can find deals like 20% off 3 edibles, value strains, 15% off storewide, $5 off concentrates, and many more types of discounts.
Because there are so few dispensaries in Arkansas, you might have to travel a bit if you want to snag an especially good deal, but often you’ll be able to find the right deal for you on Weedmaps.
The second way to find discounts is by going directly on the dispensary website. This will also help you find their reward programs if they have any.
Arkansas Dispensary Discounts
By going directly to the dispensary’s website, you’ll likely be able to find their online menu, and here is where you’ll see any discounts they’re running. This is a much more accurate way to find a discount, though it takes a little bit more research as you might have to look at several dispensary websites to determine the best deals around.
On dispensary websites I’ve seen deals like “Spend $150 get 15% off”, “10% off Gummies”, “$30 Value Strain 3.5s”, and many more deals.
There are frequently great deals to be found on dispensary websites and we highly recommend you check online before visiting in store if possible.
In many cases you can even get free delivery with minimum purchases, so check online before you head to the dispensary, you might be able to sit back and let them come to you!
Arkansas Dispensary Rewards
While some dispensaries do not offer specific reward programs, many do. Rewards are different from discounts in that you need to qualify for them. Rewards can come in a variety of ways for Arkansas dispensaries, here are a couple to look out for.
· Veteran Discounts
Veteran Discounts are usually around 10% and are the most common discount you can find.
· Physically Disabled & Terminal Patients
These can range from 10%-20% and are for patients who are permanently disabled or in terminal condition
· Low Income Patients
Around 10%, these are usually for patients who are making below the federal poverty level.
· Senior Discounts
Also around 10% off, seniors can find occasional discounts.
· First Time Patients
First, second, and even sometimes patients on their third trip can sometimes get discounts at varying levels. Often in increments of 10%, 20%, and 30%, these discounts attract new patients to shop at dispensaries for the first time and encourage them to come back. These are offered commonly at Arkansas dispensaries.
· Point System
Some dispensaries offer points-based programs, where you accumulate points as you spend money. The more money you spend, the more points you accumulate, which can go towards purchases, unlocking extra discounts, or on specific merchandise. These usually require you to sign up for text news & updates from the dispensary to be eligible for points.
These are the most common types of discounts and rewards that are available at Arkansas dispensaries. While all of these have been found at one dispensary or another, not all dispensaries will offer or continue to offer discounts or reward programs. We encourage everyone to check out each dispensary’s website, that is usually where you’ll find the most accurate and detailed information.
If you’ve gotten a really great discount at an Arkansas dispensary, tweet us at @arkansas_mmj on Twitter!
Get Your Arkansas Marijuana Card
Discounts and rewards are available in Arkansas, even if you have to look around a bit to find them. You might even qualify for them already, so be sure to check the dispensary website or talk to a budtender to find out exactly what your local dispensary offers.
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana program is available for anyone with a qualifying condition, and getting your card is fast and easy with Arkansas Marijuana Card.
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!
Check out Arkansas Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to join the medical marijuana conversation in Arkansas.
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