Quick answer: Yes, marijuana is legal in Missouri for adults 21 and older, and the state also has a medical program. Adults can possess up to 3 ounces. Home growing is allowed if you get a state cultivation registration first: up to 6 flowering plants, 6 non-flowering plants and 6 clones.

Last verified: October 20, 2026, against the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation. Laws change, so check the official site before you travel or buy.

Who can buy?

Anyone 21 or older with a valid government-issued photo ID can buy at a licensed Missouri dispensary, and residency isn’t required. Missouri medical patients with a state card can shop there too, and they get benefits like a lower tax rate. Under 21 without a medical card? Err… no.

Where can you buy?

At dispensaries licensed by the Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR), which is part of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Adult-use sales started February 3, 2023, and most existing medical dispensaries now serve both medical and adult-use customers. You’ll find them in big metro areas such as St. Louis and Kansas City and in many smaller towns.

DCR is still adjusting the rules. In 2026 it proposed changes such as allowing curbside pickup. Those proposals aren’t final, so ask your dispensary what it currently offers.

How much can you buy or possess?

Adults 21+ can buy, possess and transport up to 3 ounces of dried, unprocessed marijuana, or the equivalent in concentrates and edibles. Medical patients get much higher limits, set as a monthly amount in their certification.

Going a little over the limit isn’t the end of the world, but it isn’t free either. See the penalties section below.

Can you grow your own?

Yes, but you need a registration first. Missouri is one of the few legal states that requires adults to register with the state before they plant anything. Once you’re registered, you can grow up to:

• 6 flowering plants,
• 6 non-flowering plants (over 14 inches tall), and
• 6 clones (under 14 inches tall).

Plants must be in an enclosed, locked space at your private residence. Check DCR for the current fee and application process.

Where can you smoke?

At home, or on private property with the owner’s permission. Smoking marijuana in a public place, unless that place is licensed for it, can bring a civil penalty of up to $100. Landlords can ban smoking on their property, and federal land is always off-limits.

Can you drive after using?

No. Driving while impaired by marijuana is a DWI in Missouri, with the same consequences as an alcohol DWI. There’s no numeric THC limit, so officers decide based on your driving, field tests and drug recognition evaluations. Amendment 3 didn’t change any of this.

Can you take it out of state?

No. Taking marijuana across state lines is a federal crime. That includes bringing it into Kansas, Arkansas, Tennessee or Kentucky. It’s still illegal even if you’re crossing into Illinois, where cannabis is legal.

Federal context, as of October 2026: recreational marijuana is still a Schedule I drug federally. In April 2026, state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved products moved to Schedule III, and broader rescheduling was paused on September 29, 2026. A November 2025 federal hemp law takes away legal status from intoxicating hemp-THC products such as delta-8 and THCA flower, with its main provisions taking effect December 11, 2026.

Can your employer fire you?

If you only use cannabis as an adult-use consumer, generally yes. Employers can keep drug-free workplace policies. Amendment 3 added some protections for medical cardholders who use off-duty and aren’t impaired at work, but there are big exceptions. Those include safety-sensitive jobs and employers that would lose federal money or a federal license. Check your company’s policy.

Penalties, briefly

• Smoking in public: civil penalty, up to $100.
• Possessing more than 3 oz but less than 6 oz: civil infraction with a fine of up to $250 the first time, up to $500 the second time, and a misdemeanor after that.
• Possessing more than double the limit: this can bring criminal drug charges.
• Selling without a license, or selling to anyone under 21: this is a crime, and penalties rise with quantity and near schools.

Amendment 3 also set up automatic expungement for many past marijuana offenses. See how Missouri compares on our marijuana law hub.

Missouri marijuana law FAQ

Is recreational marijuana legal in Missouri?

Yes. Missouri voters approved Amendment 3 in November 2022. Adults 21 and older can legally buy and possess up to 3 ounces, and adult-use sales began in February 2023.

How much weed can you buy in Missouri?

Adults 21+ in Missouri can buy and possess up to 3 ounces of dried marijuana, or the equivalent in other products. Registered medical patients have higher monthly limits.

Can you grow weed in Missouri?

Yes, but only after you register with the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation. Registered adults can grow up to 6 flowering plants, 6 non-flowering plants and 6 clones in an enclosed, locked space at home.

Can out-of-state visitors buy marijuana in Missouri?

Yes. Visitors 21 and older can buy at licensed Missouri dispensaries with a valid photo ID. Missouri doesn’t accept out-of-state medical cards for medical purchases, and taking marijuana out of state is illegal.

What is the fine for smoking weed in public in Missouri?

Smoking marijuana in a public place in Missouri, other than a place licensed for it, carries a civil penalty of up to $100. Private property is fine if the owner allows it.