Weed is Legal in Missouri — What Now?

Raise your lighters in celebration: weed is legal in Missouri now. However, Amendment 3 hasn’t gone into effect just yet. It will be some time before recreational cannabis is available in the state.

What can Missouri residents expect now that weed is legal in Missouri? How long will it be before MO recreational weed is available? When will I be able to purchase MO recreational weed?

Elevate Holistics is here to give you a MO recreational weed update. Let’s dive into Amendment 3, Missouri recreational weed laws, the benefits of a Missouri medical marijuana card, and more.

MO Recreational Weed Update

Is recreational marijuana legal in Missouri? On November 8, 2022, Missouri legalizes recreational marijuana with a 53% to 47% vote. Close call.

When will Amendment 3 go into effect? The amendment will go into effect on December 8, 2022 – although it will take longer for recreational cannabis to be available to Missouri residents.

Missouri recreational dispensaries could begin selling cannabis products to residents without a medical card as early as February 2023. It might take longer for MO recreational weed to be available for purchase.

Who Will Sell MO Recreational Weed?

According to Missouri’s DHSS, existing medical marijuana facilities will be the first to receive recreational licenses. Then, DHSS will create a lottery process to select which applicants will receive licenses. The state will also introduce a microbusiness licensing program for smaller entrepreneurs and businesses.

Cannabis-Related Expungements

So what happens to Missouri residents with nonviolent marijuana charges? Those not currently incarcerated will have their record reviewed and expunged – or cleared of any related charge – by July 2023.

Any person incarcerated due to a misdemeanor marijuana offense will not automatically be released. These individuals will be able to petition to vacate the sentence and order the expungement of their records. Release dates depend on the severity of the offense, and the sentencing courts could deny certain expungements. 

Missouri Recreational Weed Laws

So what will the Missouri recreational weed laws entail? What can and cannot MO residents do regarding recreational marijuanas Missouri?

• Amendment 3 legalized purchasing and consuming recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over.

• Adults 21 and older will be able to purchase and possess 3 ounces of recreational cannabis products.

• Missouri residents who apply for a cultivation registration card will be able to grow up to six flowering marijuana plants, six nonflowering marijuana plants, and six clones.

• Smoking in a public, prohibited area is illegal and will result in a civil penalty and a maximum $100 fine.

• Driving while under the influence of cannabis is still illegal.

Will Recreational Marijuanas Missouri Impact Surrounding States?

Missouri legalizes recreational marijuana – what does this mean for the surrounding states? Now that weed is legal in Missouri while it is still illegal in surrounding states like Arkansas, law enforcement could face new concerns.

Traveling across state lines illegally with recreational cannabis from Missouri and impaired driving are the top concerns of law enforcement. Remember, marijuana is still federally illegal, making traveling across state lines possessing cannabis (even legal cannabis) illegal.

Benefits of a Missouri Medical Marijuana Card

At Elevate Holistics, we want cannabis to be accessible to everyone. We also want MMJ patients to have the best experience possible when getting their cannabis medicine. 

That’s why we strongly encourage Missouri residents to hold onto their medical marijuana cards, even though weed is legal in Missouri.

So what are the benefits of a Missouri medical marijuana card? Why have a med card when Missouri legalizes recreational marijuana fully?

Lower Costs at the Dispensary

The state will tax MO recreational weed at 6%, making it more expensive than medical marijuana. The legislation will also allow local governments to add a 3% tax on top of that.

Currently, MO taxes medical marijuana at 4% – which the state could soon decrease.

Wider Variety of Cannabis Products

When Missouri legalizes recreational marijuana for sale, there will be two different menus at the dispensary for medical patients and recreational consumers. The medical marijuana menu will boast a wider variety of cannabis products than the recreational menu.

Higher Purchase and Possession Limits

Medical marijuana will always have higher purchase and possession limits than recreational marijuanas Missouri.

When the state fully enacts Missouri recreational weed laws, the Missouri MMJ allotment will increase from 4 ounces to 6 ounces per 30 days. Recreational consumers will only be able to purchase and possess 3 ounces of cannabis products.

New Employment Protections for MMJ Patients

The passing of Amendment 3 will strengthen Missouri’s medical marijuana program in many ways, including greater legal protection. 

For example, Amendment 3 prohibits employer discrimination against:

• A “person’s status as a qualifying patient or primary caregiver who has a valid identification card, including the person’s legal use of a lawful marijuana product off the employer’s premises during nonworking hours”

• A “positive drug test for marijuana components or metabolites of a person who has a valid qualifying patient identification card” – as long as they aren’t under the influence on the job

Consumers of recreational marijuanas Missouri will not have the same legal protections.

Elevate Your Cannabis Journey With an MMJ Card

Is recreational marijuana legal in Missouri? Yes! Weed is legal in Missouri, but that doesn’t mean marijuana certified.

Elevate Holistics offers a fully online, secure, and straightforward way to get medical marijuana certification. You book the appointment for any day and time, and we virtually connect you with a certified MMJ doctor via video chat. 

Get MMJ certification from the comfort of your home.

Book a doctor’s appointment with Elevate Holistics to get your medical marijuana card today.

Learn More

• The Best Missouri Marijuana Brands to Support
• Does Missouri Accept Out-of-State Medical Marijuana Cards?