Arkansas voters will have an opportunity to vote on ending cannabis prohibition in the Fall of 2022 โ but the results may not count, pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed in August. After state officials previously certified that a sufficient number of signatures had been submitted to qualify a constitutional cannabis legalization measure for the ballot, the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners issued a ruling to block voters from seeing the measure, alleging that aspects of the language would be confusing to voters. If enacted the measure would allow adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to an ounce of cannabis. The stateโs Alcoholic Beverage Control Division would regulate and issue licenses for cultivation facilities and dispensaries; the state would collect revenue from a 10% supplemental tax on cannabis sales (in addition to normal state and local sales taxes). MPPโs summary of Issue 4 is here.
Although there are no state-mandated certifications required in Arkansas, Medical Marijuana 411 has developed an Arkansas-specific certification that includes key information about the Arkansas Medical Marijuana legal framework.
What does the Certification Include?
The Arkansas Medical Cannabis Foundational Certification will allow you to learn the core fundamentals of cannabis science and explore cannabis industry knowledge, so you are prepared to be certified in your state. Our courses and certifications will provide you with the knowledge and skillset to enter the cannabis job market competitively, right out of the gate.
This online course covers a series of 12 modules designed to teach healthcare and industry professionals the fundamental topics of cannabis and includes a specific module on the legal framework, forms, and other pertinent information regarding the Arkansas Medical Marijuana program.
In addition to Arkansas-specific regulations, ย learn about the federal legal framework of working with medical marijuana patients, the basics of the cannabis plant, the Endocannabinoid System, and how cannabinoid receptors work with our bodies. Additional modules will cover important topics like how to medicate, inhalation versus ingestion, contraindications, drug-on-drug interactions, and recommended rations for specific illnesses.
This certification also includes video testimonials from scientists and medical experts, downloadable infographics, and additional visuals to support the written content. The education is followed by an exam, and upon passing, you will receive your official certification.
Did you know?ย Healthcare professionals are permitted, by federal law, to talk to patients about medical marijuana, even in non-legal states. This is but one example of the wealth of information contained in MM411, Inc. certifications.
If you are a dispensary, medical group, or company and interested in multi-seat pricing or a customized, white-label course, please call 844.411.0500.
Legal Assessment
In 2016 voters approved Amendment 98, a ballot initiative legalized medical cannabis in Arkansas. The legislature amended the voter-approved law in 2017. The first medical cannabis dispensary in the state did not open until 2019. Since then nearly 100,000 patients have registered with the medical cannabis program, with dozens of dispensaries operating across the state.
Source: Arkansas Department of Health, as of May 2022
Qualifying Conditions
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Touretteโs syndrome
- Crohnโs disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Severe arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Alzheimerโs disease
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Intractable pain which is pain that has not responded to ordinary medications, treatment, or surgical measures for more than six (6) months
- Severe nausea
- Seizures including without limitation those characteristic of epilepsy
- Severe and persistent muscle spasms including without limitation those characteristic of multiple sclerosis
- and any other medical condition or its treatment approved by the Department of Health
Here is our base course that allows you to explore cannabis industry pathways to future certification.
Set yourself apart from the rest!
Course Syllabus
Module 1 โ US Legal
- U.S. Controlled Substances Act
- Drug Schedule โ Cannabis Schedule I
- Drug Schedule (Graphic)
- COVID Cannabis Guidelines
- Economic Impact
- Cannabis genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae
- Legal differentiation between hemp and marijuana distinguished by their respective concentrations of the cannabinoid delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
- 2018 Farm Bill
- Impact on hemp classification
- ย SAFE Banking Act
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,507
- ย Trademarks
- Ogden Memo
- Cole Memo
- Wilkenson Memo
- 2018 Sessions Memorandum
- RohrabacherโBlumenauer Amendment
- Joyce Amendment
- Conant v. Walters
- What Medical Professionals Can Legally Provide To Their Patients (Graphic)
- Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Compounds: Quality Considerations for Clinical Research
- Guidance for Industry โ Downloadable PDf
- Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Compounds: Quality Considerations for Clinical Research
- Guidance for Industry โ Video Explainer
- Taxes
- Affirmative Defense
- Bankruptcy Protection
- Employment Law
- Access to Bankingย – Financial Crimes Enforcement Network FinCEN Guidance
- Copyright and Registration
Module 2 โ Arkansasย Medical Marijuana Legal
Module 3 โ An Ancient Plant for Modern Illnesses
- Early History of Cannabis Use
- Cannabis in the West
- U.S. Prohibition History
- The Medical Implications of U.S. Prohibition
- Medical Cannabis Today
- Hemp vs Cannabis
- Brief Chronology of History in Spain and throughout Europe
Module 4 โ The Discovery of the Endocannabinoid System
- Introduction of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
- Largest Receptor System
- ECS โ Video Explainer
- Newly Discovered
- Chemical Bridge to All Bodily Functions
- Homeostasis
- Healthy Body = Healthy ECS
- ECS โ Downloadable Graphic
- Dr Jake Felice – What is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)? Video Interview
- Largest Neurotransmitter System of all โthe bodyโsย supercomputerโ
- 1964ย discovery of THC and CBD โ Raphael Mechoulam, Ph.D and Yehiel Gaoni, Ph.D
- The Scientist โ video regarding Raphael Mechoulam, Ph.D discoveries
- Allyn Howlett, Ph.D ย – Isolating THC in the brain โ 1998
- No cannabinoid receptors in the cardiac andย respiratory centers of the brainstem therefore no overdose from cannabis
- Raphael Mechoulam, Ph.D found in 1992, brain chemical that mirrors the effects of THC
- Two brain chemicals – anandamide, Sanskrit word โanandaโ brain chemical that mimicsย THC and CBD, 2-Arachidonoylglycerol, which they named 2-AG.
- Endogenous Molecules โendocannabinoidsโ.
- CB1 receptors, and CB2 receptors
- Cannabinoids and how they attach to receptors
- CB1 receptors
- Located in the central nervous system and affect many brain functions including movement, anxiety, stress, fear, pain, appetite, reward, and motor control
- CB2 receptors
- CB2 receptors control the release of cytokines, immuno-regulatory proteins, that are linked to inflammation during illness or after injury.
- Retrograde Inhibition
- Lack of education on the Endocannabinoid System
- Clinical Studies
- At a Glance โ Downloadable Infographic
- Homeostatsis
- Human Thriving Behavior and the ECS
Module 5 โ One Plant, One Complex Chemical Factory
- Minor Cannabinoids: CBG CBC CBN THCV
- Terpenes
- The Entourage Effect & Tolerance / ECS Down Regulation
- Botanical vs. Single Molecule Compounds & Cannabinoids and Opioids
Module 6 โ Getting Cannabinoids into the Bloodstream
- Inhalation: Smoking vs. Vaporization
- In the News Discussions
- Cannabis Flower vs. Concentrate
- Different Concentrate Consistencies
- Extraction Methods
- Winterization
- Concentrates Using Solvents
- Solventless Concentrates
- Edibles, Oral Mucosal, Topicals and Suppositories
- The Role of the Medical Provider
- The Role of the Dispensary: Experts within the Dispensary
Module 7 โ Patient Centered Dosing
- Considerations Before Medicating with Cannabis
- Set and Setting
- Drug-Drug Interactions
- Relative Contraindications
- Youth Under 25
- Patients and Cardiac Conditions
- Patients with Psychiatric Diagnoses
- Immunocompromised Patents
- Biphasic Effect
- Finding the Appropriate Dose
ย Module 8 โ Laboratory Testing
- How Testing Works
- Contaminants: Pesticides, Fungi and Mold
- How to Interpret a Test
Module 9 โ Clinical Practice
- Anxiety Disorders
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Migraine Headaches
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neurodegenerative Disorders
- Neuropathy
- Pain
- Palliative Care
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorders
- Sleep Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Endometriosis
- Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- Menopause
Module 10 โ Cannabis and Opioids
- Pain Management Today
- Cannabis and Opioids: The Good News
- Cannabis and NSAIDS: More Good News
Module 11 โ Medical Myths and Facts
- Gateway Theory, Addiction and Brain Function
- Impaired Motivation, Memory and Mental State
- Lung Damage, Usage Patterns and Overall Danger
Module 12 โ Side Effects Abuse and Misuse
- Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
- Cannabis Useย Disorder (CUD)
- Short and Long Term Side Effects
- Physical and Mental Effects
- Cannabis and driving
- Cannabis Overconsumption and Tolerance
