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Marijuana is Now Legal in Missouri for Adult and Medical Use !
When Can I Buy ?
Editor ’ s Note : Many readers continue to ask questions about how and when public marijuana sales will begin . For those who may have missed the November and December issues , we ’ ve decided to rerun Dan Viets ’ article about exactly “ What Amendment 3 Will and Will Not Do .” It should help answer some questions .
Dispensaries are already getting calls and visits from the public who think they can now purchase legalized adult-use Missouri marijuana from dispensaries . Our December issue included Lee Burgess , Director of Retail Operations for Kansas City Cannabis Company , who shed some light on what consumers can expect now that Amendment 3 has passed . We are also sharing that information once more .
First , here ’ s what Burgess reports for consumers .
I know everyone is really excited about Amendment 3 passing on November 8 and what it means for Missouri . Chances are that people will start stopping by dispensaries thinking they can sell to anyone age 21 and over now . Here is what consumers can expect once the new laws go into effect .
● The new Missouri medical marijuana rules go into effect on December 8 .
● However , recreational ( adult-use ) sales most likely won ’ t begin until after February 6 ( or near that date ). The DHSS could begin sales sooner , but it has 90 days from when the law was put into effect ( December 8 ), or else adult-use sales can begin automatically .
How long is your medical card good for now ?
● The expiration date on a patient ’ s current medical marijuana card will not change .
● When patients go to renew their card , the fee will be $ 25 for three years instead of the previous one year .
● Patient cultivation fees will now be $ 50 for three years . That does not include Doctor / Nurse Practitioner fees .
What are the limits on personal possession of recreational ( adult-use ) cannabis ?
● Individuals 21 + will be allowed to purchase up to three ( 3 ) ounces of cannabis flower , or its equivalents , at a time .
● There is no tracking of these purchases .
Can my employer fire me for smoking cannabis now that it ’ s legal in Missouri ?
● The new law would prevent employers from discriminating against cannabis patients in hiring , firing , and other disciplinary measures if not related to drug use or intoxication while on the job .
Does the new initiative take away our gun rights ?
● No , gun rights are explicitly protected in the amendment in Section II , Subsection 10 , which refers to preventing the state from denying rights granted by the MO Constitution under Article I , Section 23 .
Will public consumption be allowed ?
● While Amendment 3 legalizes marijuana for adult use , driving under the influence and the public consumption of marijuana will still be prohibited . However , instead of facing a criminal conviction and jail time under current law , Amendment 3 decriminalizes public consumption and instead institutes a fine of no more than $ 100 per instance .
I ’ m on probation / parole , can I become a medical marijuana patient ?
● The new law allows people on parole or probation to sign up for Missouri ’ s medical marijuana program .
What are the new Purchase / Possession limits ?
● Recreational buyers can purchase 3 oz . and possess 6 oz .
● Medical patients can purchase 6 oz , and possess 12 oz , unless they are a cultivator and then it would be 18 oz .
The following is what attorney Dan Viets , J . D ., Missouri NORML Coordinator wrote for the November issue about exactly “ What Amendment 3 Will and “ Will Not Do .”
Missourians have the opportunity with Amendment 3 to legalize Missouri ’ s non-medical adult-use , cultivation and sales of marijuana on November 8 . Amendment 3 is on the ballot because hundreds of thousands of Missourians signed petitions circulated by the Legal Missouri 2022 campaign . The following is a breakdown