Missouri legalization law fully implemented

Missouri voters approved Amendment 3 in November 2022, legalizing cannabis for adults 21 and older and establishing a regulated adult-use market. Licensed sales began in February 2023, allowing legal purchases statewide and making Missouri one of the fastest states to transition from voter approval to operational retail access.

Adult-use home cultivation is permitted for individuals who obtain a state-issued cultivation permit and follow state regulations. Adults can possess up to three ounces of cannabis. In addition to establishing an adult-use market for cannabis with a six percent retail tax on cannabis sales, plus standard sales taxes, the law also created a process for automatically expunging certain nonviolent cannabis-related convictions.

Courts have expunged more than 140,000 records for possessing or selling cannabis, providing relief to Missourians whose past cannabis offenses no longer reflect current law. In late 2025, however, the Missouri Supreme Court narrowed the definition of what offenses qualify.

You can read the full text of Amendment 3 here, along with MPP’s summary here. And you can find the cannabis regulation page here.

Missouri’s regulated adult-use cannabis market continues to expand following the voter-approved legalization measure. Since sales began in 2023, licensed retailers have generated billions in combined medical and adult-use cannabis sales, while supporting thousands of jobs across the state. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has issued occupational licenses to tens of thousands of individuals working in the regulated cannabis industry, reflecting the program’s continued growth and economic impact.

Missouri’s medical cannabis program (Amendment 2)

Missouri voters approved Amendment 2 in 2018 with 65.5% support, establishing the state’s constitutional medical cannabis program. The measure allows patients with qualifying conditions to access medical cannabis with a physician’s certification.

With a physician’s approval, a patient may qualify for medical marijuana if they have been diagnosed with any of the qualifying conditions. Applications and physician forms are available on the Department of Health and Senior Services’ site.

Home cultivation is permitted for caregivers and qualified patients who apply for and receive a cultivation card. Each cardholder may grow up to six plants.

Legislative Threat: Re-Criminalizing Public Cannabis Consumption

Despite Missouri voters’ decision to legalize cannabis for adults, lawmakers are considering legislation that would re-criminalize public cannabis consumption.

SB 1187 would make the public use of cannabis a Class B misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. Missouri law already prohibits the public consumption of cannabis, but with a much more proportionate penalty. A first offense carries a civil fine of up to $100, and subsequent offenses may have higher fines, but no jail time.

Re-criminalizing public consumption would represent a step backward and risks undermining the intent of Amendment 3, which voters approved to end cannabis prohibition for adults.

MPP is monitoring this legislation and will continue advocating for policies that respect voter-approved legalization while promoting fair and equitable cannabis regulations.

Take action to oppose efforts to roll back voter-approved legalization.

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