Missouri Cannabis Laws & Regulations
Sitting right in the center of the nation, Missouri is home to 6 million people and shares borders with Kansas and Illinois. Its two largest cities, St. Louis and Kansas City, sit along those borders, and find themselves partially in two different states.
Missouri’s medical marijuana program first started in 2021 and is already the 8th largest in the US. The Show Me State is now home to over 200 medical marijuana dispensaries, all approved by the state and operating legally, and has roughly 160,000 medical cannabis patients as of 2023. Following the surge in jobs with the vote to legalize, Missouri has now issued over 18,000 Facility Agent IDs to cannabis workers in the state.
Is Weed Legal in Missouri?
YES, but only for medicinal purposes in the state of Missouri, for people with a licensed Missouri medical marijuana card.
Weed Legalization in Missouri
In 2014, Missouri passed Senate Bill 491, which partially decriminalized marijuana by making first-time possession of 10 grams or less of cannabis a minor offense that isn’t punishable with jail time. Four years later in November 2018, Missouri voters approved Amendment 2, which legalized medical marijuana.
Under Amendment 2, the state established a medical marijuana program that allowed physicians to certify patients to purchase and possess marijuana for a broad list of qualifying conditions. The current law establishes a 4% tax on medical marijuana sales and allows patients to cultivate their own plants at home with an additional application and fee.
In November 2022, Missourians legalized cannabis by passing Amendment 3 in the general election. The first recreational sale took place in February 2023. Missouri taxes adult-use cannabis sales at a rate of 6%, and local governments can add an additional 3% tax. The initiative also required automatic expungement of non-violent cannabis offenses and the state has followed through with this directive by expunging more than 100,000 cannabis convictions as of November 2023.
As of 2023, the consumption of cannabis is legal for both medicinal and recreational use in the state of Missouri.
Where to Buy Legal Cannabis in Missouri
Qualified medical cannabis patients over 18 and caregivers aged 21 and above can purchase cannabis from state-licensed medical or dual licensed dispensaries. Adults 21 and over can purchase cannabis at recreational dispensaries.
The state levies a 4% tax on medical marijuana purchases, and a 6% tax on recreational purchases in addition to any other applicable taxes or fees.
Missouri law stipulates that the revenue generated from the state’s medical marijuana program be transferred to the Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) for the health and care of the state’s military veterans. The state's recreational taxes go to expungement efforts first, and then to drug addiction treatment, public defenders, and veterans.
Is Cannabis Delivery Available in Missouri?
YES, cannabis delivery is available for both medical and recreational purposes in Missouri.
Where Can You Legally Use Weed in Missouri?
Cannabis can be legally used in the following areas in Missouri:
🗹 Private properties such as residences
Cannabis CANNOT be consumed in:
X Public spaces
X Businesses that lack a license for commercial cannabis consumption
X Motorized vehicles in motion, for both driver and passengers
X Federal land, like national parks
What are the Restrictions on Cannabis Possession in Missouri?
For medicinal use:
- Dried cannabis: 6 ounces / 226 grams
- The equivalent of 6 ounces in concentrates and/or edibles
For adult use:
- Dried cannabis: 3 ounces
- The equivalent of 3 ounces in concentrates and/or edibles
When calculating the equivalent units for concentrates, Missouri considers the following amounts to be equal:
- 3.5 grams of dried marijuana flower
- 1 gram of marijuana concentrate
- 100 milligrams of THC-infused product
Medical cannabis patients or caregivers in Missouri who cultivate their own cannabis must keep their cultivated flower at home and out of reach of children. Patients can possess up to a 90-day supply (18 ounces) of their cultivated cannabis so long as any supply over a 60-day supply (12 ounces) is kept in a department-approved locked container at home. An adult-use consumer must keep any cultivated cannabis over their 3-ounce possession limit in a department-approved locked container at home. Possessing more than three ounces of adult-use cannabis or six ounces of medical cannabis outside of the home may result in prosecution.
- Maximum # of mature plants: 6 per person, 12 per residence
- Maximum # of immature plants: 6 per person, 12 per residence
During vehicular transportation:
- Cannabis may either be in a sealed container, or
- Stored in the trunk of the vehicle
Have Questions About Getting a Med Card in Missouri?
Learn more about medical cannabis in Missouri with our extensive set of patient resources:
