Drive-Thru Dreams Deferred: Arkansas Governor Vetoes Medical Marijuana Access Bill

17 April 2025

A new bill that would have made it easier for Arkansas medical marijuana patients to get their medicine has been vetoed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The proposal, House Bill 1889, aimed to bring back services that were temporarily allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as drive-thru pickup and simplified home delivery.

What the Bill Proposed For Arkansas’ Medical Cannabis Patients

House Bill 1889 included several key changes:

• Drive-thru pickup: Patients could order medical marijuana online and pick it up the same day without leaving their vehicle.
• Home delivery updates: Dispensaries could deliver to patients using just one employee instead of two, as long as safety measures were in place.
• Visitor access: Adults without a medical card could take guided tours of dispensaries under supervision and with ID.

Supporters said the bill would have improved convenience, safety, and costs for patients without changing who can use medical marijuana or how much they can legally have.

Why Our Governor Rejected It

Governor Sanders vetoed the bill on April 16, stating it would “expand access to usable marijuana”—something she opposes, even if the program’s eligibility rules remain unchanged.

While the state has allowed limited reforms to the medical marijuana program in the past, leadership remains cautious about anything that could be seen as broadening access.

Impact of the Veto

For Patients:

• No drive-thru option for picking up medicine.
• Delivery remains limited and more expensive due to staffing rules.
• Patients with mobility or immune challenges continue to face access barriers.

For Dispensaries:

• No staffing flexibility for delivery services.
• No visitor access for educational or transparency purposes.
• No modernization of customer service operations.

What’s Next for the Arkansas Cannabis Industry?

The bill passed the Legislature but by narrow margins, making a veto override unlikely. For now, Arkansas medical marijuana rules will stay as they are—limiting access to in-person visits and requiring more resources for delivery.

Over 100,000 patients are enrolled in the state's medical marijuana program, and many hoped for changes that would make it easier to receive their medicine. This veto keeps stricter access rules in place and signals continued resistance to expanding how the program operates.

For continued updates on medical cannabis legislation and access in Arkansas and other states, follow our cannabis policy coverage.