Missouri Medical Cannabis

Missouri became the 32nd state in the country to legalize medical cannabis when voters approved Amendment 2 on the ballot on November 6, 2018.

The measure allows patients with cancer, HIV, epilepsy and other conditions access to marijuana. It also permits use by veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The measure taxes the sale of medical cannabis at 4 percent and allocate revenue from the tax toward providing healthcare services for military veterans.

The Missouri Department Health and Senior Services (DHSS) began accepting license application fees for medical cannabis cultivation, infused product manufacturing and dispensaries on Jan. 5, 2019. There is a $10,000 fee for a cultivation application, a $6,000 fee for a medical cannabis-infused products manufacturing application and a $6,000 fee for a dispensary application, according to the DHSS application. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) planned to issue 60 cultivation, 86 manufacturing and 192 dispensary licenses.

In 2022, the state passed legislation that exempt businesses from Section 280E of the federal tax code that allows cannabis companies to deduct business expenses from their state income taxes.

Missouri’s medical cannabis program approved over 240,000 patient and caregiver applications in 2022 comparing to about 160,000 in 2021. Medical cannabis sales in Missouri began on October 16, 2020 and reached over $215 million in 2021 and about $390 million in 2022. 2023 brought in $302 million in medical cannabis sales. As of December 2023, there were 106,627 patients, 16,936 patient-cultivators, 19,029 agents, 1,881 caregivers, 2,259 consumer cultivators and 643 physician and nurse practitioners.

It is projected that cumulative medical cannabis sales will exceed $1 billion in 2024.

Missouri Recreational Cannabis

Missouri 2022 ballot measures:

Marijuana Legalization Initiative. The initiative would legalize the purchase, possession, consumption, use, delivery, manufacturing, and sale of marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of 21; allow individuals convicted of non-violent marijuana-related offenses to petition to be released from incarceration and/or have their records expunged; and impose a 6% tax on the sale of marijuana.

The amendment passed with a vote of 53.11 percent for and 46.89 percent against.

How to Start a Cannabis Business in Missouri

As of December 2023, a total of 459 (357 as of December 2022) licenses have been approved, including 67 (50) cultivation facilities, 215 (195) dispensary facilities and 16 microbusiness dispensary facilities, 89 (78) manufacturing facilities, 32 microbusiness wholesale facilities, 10 (8) testing facilities and 30 (26) transport facilities.

Twelve months of 2023 brought in $1.036 billion in adult use cannabis sales (77% of total sales).

Weed Delivery in Missouri

After Missouri voters approved Amendment 3 on November 8, 2022, legalizing the recreational use of cannabis for adults 21 and older, both medical and recreational cannabis may be delivered.

Cannabis Delivery Service by State

Missouri Cannabis Market Infographics

Missouri Hemp Industry