How To Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Missouri

Approval for medical marijuana in Missouri was done through Amendment 2 in 2018. Sales from dispensaries began in October 2020. Amendment 3 made recreational marijuana available to the residents of Missouri in November 2022, after which adults were allowed to use recreational marijuana starting in February 2023.

Even though recreational marijuana is readily accessible for individuals aged 21 years and older, having a medical card comes with additional advantages, including purchase limitations, lower tax rates, the ability to grow marijuana plants at home, and easy-to-access digital cards issued by the DHSS of Missouri.

The Missouri Medical Marijuana Program is run by the DHSS Division of Cannabis Regulation.

• Website: health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis 
• Application form: cannabis.mo.gov

No residency is needed in Missouri – non-residents can apply as well. To be eligible, one needs to be:

• 18 years of age or older (or have parental consent if under 18)
• Suffering from an illness or condition as approved by a licensed Missouri doctor or nurse practitioner

There are no felony bars in the state.

Individuals who certify shall be licensed, be in good standing in Missouri, and shall register with DHSS. Individuals who can be certified include physicians (both M.D.’s and D.O’s), and advanced practice registered nurses. Telehealth is fully acceptable. Certificates should be forwarded to DHSS within 30 days of the date signed by the certifying physician.

In terms of its combination of a specified list of qualifications alongside an all-encompassing clause, Missouri is perhaps one of the most accessible qualification programs. Listed conditions include:

• Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, autism
• Cancer, epilepsy, and glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease
• Multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, neuropathy
• Parkinson’s disease, PTSD, sickle cell disease
• Terminal illness and intractable pain
• Any chronic, debilitating condition a physician determines would benefit from cannabis, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, and chronic pain

Residents may petition DHSS to formally add new conditions, though the physician discretion clause already covers most.

Step 1: Get Certified by a Registered Provider

Schedule a consultation with a doctor licensed to practice medicine in Missouri. The consultation may be either face-to-face or by video conference. You must be examined by a licensed MD, DO, or APRN who has previously enrolled with the DHSS. You will receive approval after filling in the Electronic Physician Certification form provided by the DHSS.

Your approval is valid for 30 days.

Step 2: Create an Account and Apply Online

Go to cannabis.mo.gov and sign up for a patient profile. After signing in, start the patient application process. To complete the process, you’ll be required to provide:

• An identification document with a photo (driver’s license, passport, or state ID)
• A color photograph of your face taken no more than three months ago (not a picture from your ID)
• Parent/legal guardian consent (for minors)
• Evidentiary proof of receiving income assistance (if you want to pay a reduced fee)

Your doctor’s certification (your doctor sends it to you via the website).

Step 3: Pay the Application Fee

Missouri’s state application fees are among the lowest nationally:

Application fees are paid via the portal cannabis.mo.gov. Individuals living in poverty and receiving government assistance might be eligible for a fee reduction. 

Step 4: Wait for Approval

DHSS reviews applications in up to 30 days, but usually approves applicants within 1 to 2 weeks. Applicants will be informed about their status by email. In case of rejection, individuals get 10 days to fix any issues with their application.

Step 5: Download Your Digital Card

No physical cards are issued by the state of Missouri. After an individual is approved, he or she can download a PDF ID card from the cannabis.mo.gov website. It can be saved on one’s phone or printed.

Present your digital card at any of Missouri’s 200+ licensed dispensaries. No registration at a specific location is required.

Purchase and Possession Limits

Medical marijuana patients can buy up to 6 ounces within any 30 days, twice the 3 ounces allowed for recreational users. Missouri operates under the Marijuana Equivalency Unit (MME) method, where 3.5 grams of marijuana flowers, 1 gram of concentrates, or 100 mg of THC products are equivalent to 1 MME, with 48 MME being the maximum monthly allowance.

Those who need more than 6 ounces are advised to obtain a medical certificate from their doctor.

Home Cultivation

Patients who are registered can apply for a Patient Cultivation License by paying an extra $50. This allows the growth of six flowering plants, six non-flowering plants, and six clone plants less than 14 inches tall in an enclosed and locked environment.

A minor patient cannot apply for a cultivation license.

• Less tax on marijuana – 4% tax on medical marijuana vs. 6% tax for recreational use
• More buying power – 6 ounces per month vs. 3 ounces per transaction for recreational users
• Right to grow at home – no right to grow at home under Amendment 3 for recreational users
• No waiting period for digital card – card available instantly once issued online
• Out-of-state users protected by Missouri’s constitution

The caregivers get registered with the DHSS and make a payment of a $25 caregiver fee. The caregiver can help up to three patients and obtain cultivation licenses restricted to 24 flowering plants at maximum. Caregivers are not permitted to act as the certifying health care providers of the patients they help.

The constitution of Missouri prohibits the arrest of cardholders from other states for using cannabis in amounts allowable under the terms and conditions outlined in their medical cards. 

Medical marijuana cards are issued for 3 years. Medical marijuana renewal must be completed 60 to 30 days before expiration. Renewal requires signing an updated physician’s statement within 30 days before the renewal.

• No residency requirement – applicants from other states can apply
• No physical card – the card is downloaded in a PDF format
• Physician’s certification needs to be filed within 30 days of signing
• Patient card fee of $25 – one of the lowest in the nation
• Validity period of cards – 3 years
• Purchase limit of 6 ounces every month, twice that of recreational use
• Growing marijuana at home requires obtaining a cultivation card worth $50
• Children under 18 cannot apply for growing licenses