Missouri Marijuana Officials Are Reviewing Rules On Purchase Limits For Medical Patients

*“Restricting patient purchasing power is not a neutral act. It disrupts
care, deepens mistrust, and locks out those who moved first with the most
at stake.”*

*By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent*

Cannabis advocacy organizations are sounding the alarm about guidance from
state regulators limiting how much medical marijuana patients can purchase
from licensed dispensaries.

By law, dispensaries are required to track how much medical marijuana
patients buy so they don’t exceed their limit.

According to a FAQ that was added earlier this year to the website of the
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the state’s cannabis
regulatory agency, if patients reach their limit they are not legally
allowed to buy marijuana like as a recreational consumer.

“…patient ID card holders are not allowed to purchase as a consumer in a
licensed dispensary,” the website states. “These regulations help ensure
patients and consumers stay within their allowed possession limits.”

In general, medical patients are limited to a 6-ounce allotment of dried,
unprocessed marijuana every 30 days. Recreational consumers are allowed to
purchase up to 3 ounces every day—but can’t possess more than 3 ounces.

The state is prohibited by law from tracking the purchases of people who
don’t have patient ID cards without their permission.

Andrew Mullins, executive director of the Missouri Marijuana Trade
Association, sent a letter to leaders of the Division of Cannabis
Regulation in April claiming the policy is unconstitutional.

“We believe that DCR’s interpretation that a Missourian must either be an
adult-use consumer or a medical patient is neither good public policy nor a
constitutionally sound interpretation,” he wrote.

Mullins said the policy is also inconsistent with what the division told
industry members in February 2023, just days after recreational marijuana
sales began in Missouri. The division sent an email responding to an
industry member’s question on the issue that said patients who are 21 years
of age or older “will also be able to purchase cannabis products as a
consumer.”

Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for the division, said the February email “was
inaccurate and sent in error.” It was a few months before the final
administrative rules on recreational cannabis became effective in August
2023, she said.

“The department has received and reviewed the correspondence from MoCann
Trade regarding the communication that was sent in error,” Cox said. “The
department has engaged directly with MoCann Trade to address their concerns
and has informed them that the policies are currently under review.”

Brennan England, Missouri state director for Minorities for Medical
Marijuana, believes there needs to be a coordinated effort to repeal the
policy.

“We in the Black and Brown medical community were early adopters—seeking
primarily legal protection, consistent access and affordability…” he said.
“Restricting patient purchasing power is not a neutral act. It disrupts
care, deepens mistrust, and locks out those who moved first with the most
at stake.”

England, a long-time medical cannabis patient and community leader, began
organizing for medical marijuana reform in 2014, leading some of the
state’s largest signature drives and public education events. He founded
the St. Louis Cannabis Club and opened The Cola Lounge, Missouri’s first
private cannabis consumption space, in August 2019, the moment state
protections for patients became active.

England believes the rule harms minority communities disproportionately,
and a repeal should be followed by a “joint policy briefing” with division
leaders and impacted patients, licensed operators and legal advisors.

“Beyond policy, we need strategy that humanizes the process,” England said.
“That means real conversations—not just statements—where regulators hear
firsthand from patients and communities affected. A briefing is one thing,
but sitting across from someone who’s had care delayed or denied by this
rule? That creates impact that data alone can’t.”

*This story was first published by Missouri Independent.*

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