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Four years ago, voters approved medical marijuana in the State of Missouri. On the 8th, Missouri voters spoke again in favor of recreational marijuana, and it was legalized!
The medical marijuana industry has raked in about $500 million dollars in sales since its inception in 2020. Currently, the state has about 204,000 patients registered in its medical marijuana program.
The language of Amendment 3 appeared on the ballot as follows:
“Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
remove state prohibitions on purchasing, possessing, consuming, using, delivering, manufacturing, and selling marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of twenty-one;
require a registration card for personal cultivation with prescribed limits;
allow persons with certain marijuana-related non-violent offenses to petition for release from incarceration or parole and probation and have records expunged;
establish a lottery selection process to award licenses and certificates;
issue equally distributed licenses to each congressional district; and
impose a 6% tax on the retail price of marijuana to benefit various programs?”
What to Expect from the Passage of Amendment 3
The passage of Amendment 3 means that medical dispensaries will be allowed to apply for what is called a “comprehensive license”, so they can have the option to sell both medical and recreational cannabis.
Cultivation facilities and manufacturing licensees that are currently dealing with medical marijuana will be given first choice as to whether or not they would like to work with and grow recreational marijuana.
After medical marijuana companies are given the chance to apply for a comprehensive license, another 144 micro-licenses will be appointed to other hopeful marijuana entrepreneurs.
Micro-licensees are allowed to grow up to 250 plants, and the window to apply will be announced shortly. We will keep you updated!
Under the medical marijuana program, patients are taxed 4% whereas recreational users will be charged a 6% tax. The tax on recreational marijuana is expected to bring in around $40 million for the State of Missouri.
2% of the 6% sales tax for recreational cannabis will go to the Veterans, Health, and Community Reinvestment Fund. Another third will be given to the Missouri Veterans Commission.
Possession
With the passage of Amendment 3, anyone 21 and older will be allowed to possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and have up to 6 plants, 6 clones, and 6 seedlings. The amendment also expunges non-violent offenses for cannabis, a huge win for the marijuana movement!
Missouri now has the second-highest possession limit in the nation.
When Will Recreational Marijuana be Ready for Purchase?
Some politicians are estimating that recreational marijuana might be ready for purchase as soon as the end of February 2023. However, we are not so sure.
As history shows, when a state legalizes recreational marijuana, it actually takes much longer and sometimes years for it to be fully implemented. For example, Virginia legalized recreational marijuana over 3 years ago and the program is still not operational.
The licensing process takes longer than one might hope, and growing the marijuana will take some time as well. Nevertheless, we hope that recreational marijuana will be available sooner than later!
Why You Should Still Get Your Medical Marijuana Card
Although recreational marijuana is now legalized, you should still get your medical card for many reasons.
First, as previously mentioned, medical marijuana patients pay less in taxes on their medicine. If you have ever purchased from a dispensary, you know how expensive it can be, especially with the taxes. The lower tax placed on medical products could make a huge difference in cost over time.
Medical-only dispensaries will likely remain throughout the state, and recreational customers will not have access to these locations. Also, there are higher possession and purchase limits for people with their medical marijuana card.
The products purchased at medical dispensaries most likely have a much higher potency than recreational products will have. Some medical marijuana patients require high potencies to treat their condition.
Not to mention, having a medical marijuana card will also give you stronger legal protection. Having your medical marijuana card can help you if you become legally implicated due to possession or anything else marijuana-related.
Try Medical Marijuana Today
Even though marijuana is now legal in Missouri, you should still get your medical marijuana card. Medical cannabis will pay less in taxes for their product, and the standards for medical marijuana are much higher than that of recreational.
If you don’t already have your medical marijuana card, we can help! Our doctors are standing by to take you through a quick and easy evaluation to see if you qualify. During your evaluation, they will be happy to answer all your questions about how cannabis may be able to help with your anxiety or any other medical conditions.
Schedule an appointment with a marijuana professional online by giving us a call at
(877) 303-3117 to talk to a patient support representative.
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Missouri Marijuana Card, our mission is to help everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (877) 303-3117, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting the relief you can trust today!
Check out Missouri Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the medical marijuana conversation in Missouri!
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