Key Takeaways

• Cannabis law and regulations:
  • The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is responsible to release applications, issue licenses, and develop regulations. The Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) was formed in November 2022 following the passage of Amendment 3, which amended Missouri’s constitution to include adult-use cannabis laws within Article XIV. Amendment 3 entrusted DHSS with regulating adult use of cannabis for those ages 21 and up in Missouri just as it led the state’s medical marijuana program since its 2018 inception.
• Licenses available: Cultivation Facility; Manufacturing Facility; Dispensary Facility; Microbusiness Dispensary Facility; Microbusiness Wholesale Facility; Testing Facility; Transportation Facility; Offsite Warehouse Facility. In order to qualify for a microbusiness facility license, applicant entities shall be majority owned by individuals who each meet at least one of a number of qualifications set forth in the Constitution.
• Products legal:
  • People 21 or older are allowed to possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana.
• Taxes:
  • The state tax rate for medical marijuana purchases is 4% and there is no authority for an extra local tax. The state tax rate for adult-use marijuana purchases is 6% and local governments may impose an additional sales tax of up to 3%.
• Market:
  • Medical: Medical cannabis sales began on October 16, 2020, reached an all-time high of around $390 million in 2022 – the peak before a gradual decline began following the launch of the recreational cannabis program.
  • Recreational: Adult-use cannabis sales totaled $1,036 million (77% of total sales) in 2023, $1,279 million (88% of total sales) in 2024, and $1,344 million in 2025 (89% of total sales).

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.

Medical cannabis sales in Missouri began on October 16, 2020, reached an all-time high of around $390 million in 2022 – the peak before a gradual decline began following the launch of the recreational cannabis program. Missouri’s medical cannabis program approved over 240,000 patient, agent and caregiver applications in 2022 compared to about 160,000 in 2021. By July 2024, cumulative medical cannabis sales have exceeded $1 billion.

As of February 2026, there were 107,376 patients, 17,020 patient-cultivators, 13,605 agents, 2,098 caregivers, 2,132 consumer cultivators and 612 physician and nurse practitioners.

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 February 2026, a total of 405 licenses has been approved to operate, including 214 dispensary facilities and 3 microbusiness dispensary facilities, 85 manufacturing facilities, 63 cultivation facilities, 20 transport facilities, 12 microbusiness wholesale facilities and 8 testing facilities

Adult-use cannabis sales totaled $1,036 million (77% of total sales) in 2023, $1,279 million (88% of total sales) in 2024, and $1,344 million in 2025 (89% 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 can be delivered to consumers, qualifying patients and primary caregivers by licensed dispensary facilities and transportation facilities.

Cannabis Delivery Service by State

Cannabis Courier Service by State

Missouri Cannabis Market Infographics

Missouri Hemp Industry