What would change for medical marijuana patients if Missouri legalizes recreational weed?

Marijuana is on Missouri’s midterm ballot, and some of our readers are wondering what the legalization of recreational marijuana would mean for medical marijuana patients.

Medical marijuana was legalized in Missouri in 2018 by nearly two-thirds of voters. The program was backed by the same groups that are pushing for the current ballot initiative to legalize recreational pot.

So how will this current effort to expand marijuana legalization impact the current medical marijuana program? Here’s a look at Amendment 3 and what it will mean for medical marijuana users in Missouri.

Medical marijuana cards valid longer

Amendment 3 would lengthen the amount of time that medical marijuana cards issued by the Department of Health and Senior Services are good for. Currently, medical marijuana cards are good for one year, but if the initiative passes, they would be good for three years. The cost of medical marijuana cards will also remain at $25.

The same would be true for patient cultivation cards, which allow patients to grow their own weed at home. Cultivation cards currently last for one year, but if the amendment passes, the cards would be valid for three years. The cost of securing a cultivation card would also be cut in half, making it only $50 instead of $100.

Expand the amount that patients can buy at a time

Currently medical marijuana patients can only buy 4 ounces of dried marijuana flower (or its equivalent) each month. If the amendment passes, qualifying patients would be able to purchase 6 ounces of weed each month.

More health professionals can sign off on medical marijuana users

The petition would also allow nurse practitioners and physicians to certify people for the medical marijuana program. Currently, the DHSS has to certify patients, but this way a private doctor or nurse practitioner can recommend the program to the patient.

Medical marijuana use can’t be used against you

There would also be added protections for patients who use medical marijuana but are concerned about keeping their job or custody of their kids. If this amendment is added to the state’s constitution, having a medical marijuana card cannot be used against patients.

“We thought these are some important changes that we need to make sure that patients are protected. They shouldn’t be penalized by any of these processes simply for using what they need medically,” said John Payne, a spokesperson for LegalMo, the campaign that pushed for the ballot initiative.

The new amendment will prohibit employers from using marijuana usage as the basis for hiring or firing patients unless the concern is about using marijuana on the job or working while intoxicated. Otherwise, drug tests that just show the presence of marijuana in your system cannot be used against you.

Family court hearings also can’t use marijuana usage against medical marijuana patients. Landlords will still be able to restrict whether a patient can smoke on their property, they will not be able to restrict a patient’s ability to otherwise consume or possess marijuana.

How will Amendment 3 impact the prices of medical marijuana?

We’re not sure yet.

Payne, a spokesperson for LegalMO in support of the amendment, said that the price of marijuana and marijuana-infused products have been falling and that the legalization of recreational marijuana could possibly create more capacity for production in the medical marijuana industry, which could increase the supply of medical marijuana in the state.

How will medical marijuana be taxed?

Medical marijuana is currently taxed at 4%. If Amendment 3 passes, recreational marijuana will be taxed at 6%, but local governments will also have the choice to tax recreational use marijuana by an additional 3%. So, taxes on medical marijuana will remain lower than recreational use marijuana.

This story was originally published November 3, 2022 at 7:00 AM.

Kynala Phillips

The Kansas City Star

Kynala Phillips was a Service Journalism Reporter at The Kansas City Star, where she worked to answer readers questions about the resources and services in the community. She attended the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is originally from Madison, Wisconsin.