Missouri Marijuana Laws
Facts on this page were checked against official sources, including RSMo 191.1146 and Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution, by the Dr. Green Relief editorial team. The fees are from the DHSS fee schedule (July 2026 to June 2027), the patient card term is from Article XIV, section 1.3(19), the adult-use limits and home grow penalties are from Article XIV, section 2.10, and the consumer cultivation card’s term and grow conditions are from section 2.4(24). Last reviewed October 29, 2026.
Johnathan Chancellor Miller, M.D. (Missouri medical license 2020035594) is among the physicians who provide telehealth evaluations for Missouri patients with Dr. Green Relief.
In short, Missouri allows medical marijuana for patients certified by a Missouri-licensed physician or nurse practitioner, and adults 21 and older may buy up to three ounces per transaction. Under RSMo 191.1146, a physician may certify by telemedicine after examining you, unless the standard of care requires an in-person visit, and DHSS says a nurse practitioner may do the same. The DHSS patient card costs $28.92 and lasts three years.
Missouri marijuana laws allow medical use under a 2018 constitutional amendment and adult use for people 21 and older under a 2022 amendment. This guide covers medical card rules, the 3 oz adult limit, home growing, public use, driving and expungement.
Is Marijuana Legal in Missouri?
Yes, cannabis is legal in Missouri for both recreational and medical purposes. Adults 21 and older may carry 3 ounces, while patients may buy 6 ounces every 30 days. Both groups may buy and possess marijuana only in specific amounts, with Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution setting those limits for adults and for patients.
Is Medical Marijuana Legal?
Yes, medical usage of cannabis is legal in the state of Missouri. In 2014, House Bill 2238 let registered patients with intractable epilepsy possess hemp extract with no more than 0.3% THC. Then, in 2018, medical cannabis was officially legalized after a state-wide vote saw 65.6% of voters approve Amendment 2.
In Missouri, those who wish to use medical cannabis must obtain a Missouri medical marijuana card, which requires a written certification from a medical marijuana doctor (a Missouri-licensed physician) or a Missouri-licensed nurse practitioner, confirming that the patient has a qualifying condition.
Is Recreational Marijuana Legal?
Alongside its medical program, Missouri allows adult use for people 21 and older under Article XIV Section 2 of the state constitution. Amendment 3, which legalized recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older, passed on the November 2022 ballot with 53.1% of the vote, and adult possession became legal in Missouri from December 2022 onward.
The History of Marijuana Laws in Missouri
Missouri’s marijuana laws have changed through city ballots, state legislation and constitutional amendments. In November 2004, Columbia put a measure on the city ballot that moved cannabis possession cases under 35 grams to municipal court rather than state court. This ballot passed, along with a separate ballot to allow for the usage of medical cannabis with a doctor’s recommendation.
In 2014, Senate Bill 491 made possession of 10 grams of marijuana or less a class D misdemeanor with no jail term, unless the person had a prior drug offense. That change was part of a wider revision of the Missouri criminal code. The revised code, including the lighter possession penalty, took effect on January 1, 2017.
In 2018, the state of Missouri held a vote to legalize the medical use of cannabis, with 65.6% of voters agreeing. This new measure allows patients with qualifying conditions to not only buy and use cannabis but also to grow some of their own plants (six flowering, six nonflowering and six clones) in their own homes. The first sales of medical marijuana then took place on October 16, 2020, and the constitution bars the state from capping dispensary licenses below 24 in each of its eight congressional districts.
2022 brought an even bigger change with a new initiative to legalize cannabis for recreational use. This ballot passed with 53.1% of the vote, with possession of cannabis for anyone aged 21+ becoming legal in Missouri in December of 2022. Licensed dispensaries now sell to adults 21 and older with a valid government photo ID, as well as to patients.
Missouri Marijuana Laws on Possession, Purchase and Growing
Article XIV Section 2 sets separate rules for possession, purchase, home growing and public use.
Possession & Purchase
Adults 21 and older may legally possess up to 3 oz of marijuana in Missouri, and carrying that amount brings no state or local fine, except in places the constitution excludes, such as school grounds. Carrying more than 3 oz but no more than 6 oz brings a civil fine of up to $250 the first time; amounts over twice the limit fall under criminal law.
How Much Can I Buy and Possess in Missouri?
In Missouri, it’s possible for any adult (aged 21+) to buy up to 3 oz of marijuana at a time.
Where Can I Buy Cannabis in Missouri?
You can buy cannabis from any of the many dispensaries located around the state. DHSS keeps a list and map of licensed dispensaries; look for the Verified Dispensary decal or a state license inside.
Who Can Legally Purchase Cannabis in Missouri?
Anyone aged 21 and above can buy cannabis in the state of Missouri. Patients with a Missouri medical marijuana card may buy more: up to 6 ounces every 30 days, or a greater amount if their certification allows it.
Home Cultivation
Home cultivation of marijuana plants is legal in Missouri only with a state cultivation card. Adults 21 and older can grow up to six flowering plants, six nonflowering plants (over 14 inches tall) and six clones (under 14 inches tall) with a DHSS consumer cultivation card, which the department’s fee schedule lists at $115.68 for July 2026 to June 2027. The Missouri Constitution makes the card valid for 12 months. It also requires that the plants, and any marijuana they produce beyond three ounces, be kept at one private residence, in a locked space and not visible by normal, unaided vision from a public place. No more than 12 flowering plants may be kept in or on the grounds of a private residence at one time. Plants that can be seen from a public place, or that are not kept in a locked space, can bring a civil penalty of up to $250 and forfeiture of the marijuana.
Reciprocity
Missouri dispensaries may accept medical cards from other states, but a Missouri card does not protect you once you leave Missouri.
Consumption
Missouri marijuana laws allow adults 21 and older to consume cannabis, and allow qualifying patients to use it for medical purposes.
Where Can I Use Cannabis in Missouri?
Missouri bars marijuana use in public places unless the area is licensed for it, and smoking in public carries a civil penalty of up to $100. Patients face the same penalty for smoking medical marijuana in a public place outside a licensed area.
Who Qualifies for a Missouri Medical Marijuana Card?
In order to apply for the Missouri Medical Marijuana program, patients will need to have a qualifying condition and need a certification from a Missouri-licensed physician or nurse practitioner. The conditions in Article XIV include:
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Intractable migraines unresponsive to other treatment
- Any chronic condition that causes severe, persistent pain or persistent muscle spasms
- MS
- Parkinson’s
- Tourette’s
- Debilitating psychiatric disorders, such as PTSD diagnosed by a state-licensed psychiatrist
- A chronic condition normally treated with a prescription medication that could lead to dependence, when a physician or nurse practitioner finds marijuana could be effective and a safer alternative
- Hepatitis C
- ALS
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
- Autism
- Neuropathies
- Sickle cell anemia
- Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
- Cachexia
- HIV/AIDS, terminal illness, wasting syndrome and other conditions a physician or nurse practitioner certifies
Transportation
Missouri state law allows adults 21 and older to transport up to 3 oz of cannabis at a time. Patients may carry amounts within their medical limit if they can show their card, or their certification while they apply, on request.
Driving
Driving while under the influence of marijuana is illegal in Missouri and can be punished with jail time and fines.
Expungement
Article XIV Section 2, approved by voters in 2022, provides for expunging eligible marijuana offenses from criminal records. By Nov. 30, 2024, the state had spent $4,055,227 on these expungements.
How to Obtain a Medical Card?
You apply for a Missouri medical marijuana card online in the DHSS registry, where you select the certification your physician or nurse practitioner filed.
Overall, Missouri allows adult use from age 21 and medical use for certified patients, each under its own limits and taxes.
Missouri City Guides
