Washington County, AR Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Recreational retail
- Illegal statewide
- Only legal outlet
- Licensed medical dispensary
- Buffer
- 1,500 ft from school/church
- County cap
- Four dispensaries maximum
- Licensing body
- AR Medical Marijuana Commission
Summary
Only medical dispensaries are legal in Arkansas, and licensed ones operate in Washington County, including Fayetteville. Under Amendment 98 a dispensary may not sit within 1,500 feet of a school, church, or daycare, and no county may have more than four. Recreational sales are illegal.
the location of which may not be within one thousand five hundred feet (1,500') of a public or private school, church, daycare center, or facility for individuals with developmental disabilities
Full Breakdown
There are no recreational cannabis stores to zone in Washington County; the only lawful outlets are medical dispensaries licensed by the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission and enforced by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division. Licensed dispensaries already serve the Fayetteville and Springdale area of NW Arkansas. Amendment 98 sets a hard buffer: a dispensary's location may not be within 1,500 feet of a public or private school, church, or daycare center, and cultivation facilities carry a 3,000-foot buffer. No single county may hold more than four dispensary licenses. On top of the state siting rule, Washington County planning and any host city's zoning apply to a licensed location.
Violations & Fines
Selling marijuana outside the licensed medical system is unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, a felony, not a zoning matter. A licensed dispensary violating its buffer or security conditions risks Medical Marijuana Commission sanctions and license loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cannabis dispensaries allowed in Washington County?
How far must a dispensary be from a school?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Arkansas cannabis regulations overview
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