Missouri State Cannabis Laws

Missouri State Cannabis Laws

Missouri legalization of medical marijuana has brought on many questions. And if you do not fully understand the laws there can be serious consequences for the possession or use of marijuana outside of what is allowed for medical use.

This is why it’s important to understand your rights surrounding medical marijuana in Missouri. You should never make assumptions when it comes to lawfully purchasing, carrying or growing medical marijuana.

In the state of Missouri marijuana is illegal according to Federal law. This means that unless you have a medical marijuana card you cannot possess any amount of cannabis.

Is Cannabis legal in Missouri?

Medical cannabis is legal but recreational use of marijuana is not. Missouri cannabis legalization didn’t happen until 2018. It wasn’t until late 2019 that the first Missouri dispensary license was issued. And early 2020 the state started issuing licenses to dispensaries, labs and cultivators. Since then there have been 192 dispensary licenses granted to businesses across the state and most of which are operational.

Hand holding cannabis against Missouri flag.

Is cbd oil legal in Missouri?

When it comes to CBD oil Missouri state has lenient CBD laws. You’ll find many products that contain CBD, such as foods, drinks, and alcoholic beverages. Because CBD legal in Missouri there is no minimum age for CBD, however many vendors may restrict access to consumers who are under the age of 21.

However, because many CBD products contain some THC the Missouri CBD law states that if it contains more than 0.3% of THC you cannot legally purchase the product without a medical card.

Missouri cannabis laws

How much cannabis can you have in Missouri?

As a medical card holder in the state of MIssouri you are allowed to purchase up to 4 oz of cannabis. However, because Missouri uses MME metrics. These metrics allow you to purchase various types of cannabis products based on the amounts of THC in the product. For example, if you purchase 3.5 grams of marijuana this is equal to 1 MME. 1 MME is equivalent to 1 gram of marijuana concentrate or 100 mg of THC infused product. You can purchase up to 32 MME per month.

As a cultivator, you can have 12 ounces or equivalent in your home. But if you marijuna on you outside of your home you should not have more than eight ounces in your possession.

Missouri medical card laws

The cannabis Missouri medical card laws are pretty straight forward. You cannot smoke in public even with a medical card, you can still be fired at your job for having marijuana in your system even with a medical card, and you are restricted from purchasing, and carrying a certain amounts of cannabis.

Medical cannabis prescription and container

Qualifying conditions for medical card in Missouri

​​Missouri medical card program allows qualifying Missouri patients access to medical marijuana. Your medical condition will need to be approved by a medical doctor before applying for your medical card . There are currently 24 Missouri medical marijuana qualifying conditions that have been approved by the state of Missouri as debilitating conditions that patients can treat with medical cannabis.

Here are the qualifying conditions for medical card in Missouri:

  • Any terminal illness
  • Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
  • Autism
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  • AIDS
  • Cancer
  • Cachexia
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Debilitating psychiatric disorders diagnosed by a state-licensed psychiatrist.
  • Glaucoma
  • Epilepsy
  • HIV
  • Huntington’s disease
  • Hepatitis C
  • Intractable migraines once the patient is found to be unresponsive to other forms of treatment.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  • Neuropathies
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Sickle cell anemia
  • Seizures
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) when diagnosed by a state-licensed psychiatrist
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Wasting syndrome
  • Tourette’s syndrome
  • A chronic health condition that is treated with prescription medication. If the medication can lead to psychological or physical dependence a state-licensed physician can prescribe medical marijuana to treat that condition to avoid potential side effects and addiction.
  • A chronic health condition that causes persistent muscle spasms or severe, persistent pain.
  • A debilitating or chronic condition diagnosed by a licensed physician.

What is the legal age to purchase cannabis in Missouri?

You are required to be at least 18 years or older to possess marijuana in Missouri and you will need a valid medical card to purchase marijuana.

However, if you are under the age of 18 it’s possible for you to get a medical card, through a caregiver. The caregiver purchases the marijuana products for you in order for you to treat your medical condition. A caregiver is often a parent or legal guardian

Woman administering medicine to elderly man.

How to become a cannabis caregiver in Missouri

In order to become a cannabis caregiver you’ll need to submit an application on behalf of yourself and the qualifying patient. To complete the application you’ll need the register on the Missouri Medical Marijuana Program Portal. You’ll need an email address and phone number to complete this step. To apply for your card you’ll also need the following information, a digital photo that will be used for your card, proof of Missouri residency and government issued photo ID.

Here are some of the requirements to become a caregiver:

  • You must be a legal adult in Missouri and 21 years old or over to qualify as a caregiver, and the primary caregiver who is significantly responsible for “managing the well-being of a qualifying patient.”
  • A signed Missouri patient authorization form stating you are the MMJ patient’s caregiver.
  • If you are under the age of 18 only a parent or guardian can be a primary caregiver.
  • You cannot be a caregiver to more than three qualifying patients and a patient cannot have more than two primary caregivers.

Is cannabis delivery legal in Missouri?

During Covid medical cannabis delivery became a legal option for Missouri patients. Medical cannabis dispensaries are allowed to deliver to customers with same-day delivery.

Are dispensaries legal in Missouri?

In 2018 medical cannabis became legal in Missouri. Because medical marijuana is legal, so are dispensaries. However, recreational cannabis is not legal and cannot be sold in any dispensary to someone who does not have a medical card.