Cass County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2025

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Cass County?

It is legal in Cass County to cultivate cannabis for medical and adult use. Medical cannabis was legalized in 2018 by Article XIV of the State of Missouri’s Constitution. Section 2 was added to this by Amendment 3 in 2022, which legalized adult-use cannabis for individuals who are 21 years old and older.

The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Division of Cannabis Regulation licenses and regulates medical and adult-use cannabis throughout the state. As of August 2023, though, applications for the cannabis comprehensive cultivation facility license were not being accepted.

The DHSS converted the licenses of 56 medical cannabis cultivation facilities to cannabis comprehensive cultivation facility licenses in February 2023, allowing them to cultivate medical and adult-use cannabis crops. As of July 26, 2023, there were 67 cannabis cultivation licensees that were operational in the state.

The DHSS will award four cannabis microbusiness wholesale licenses in every district of Congress in the state in October 2023, with an additional four to be granted in 2024 and four more in 2025. This license is exclusively available to underserved small business owners. It allows for the cultivation of up to 250 mature cannabis plants as well as the production of medical and adult-use cannabis products from the harvest.

The Cass County Zoning Regulations allow licensed cannabis cultivation facilities only in the agricultural, light industrial, medium industrial, and heavy industrial district zones.

Cass County Ordinance No. 23-01 amended the County Code on March 8, 2023, to require the following from any licensed marijuana facility:

1. A newly licensed cannabis facility must have a separation of over 1,000 feet from any childcare center, educational facility up to the secondary level, or house of worship.
2. A licensed cannabis facility cannot be located in the same building as a residence.
3. Except for cannabis cultivation facilities with outdoor licenses, other licensed cannabis facilities must operate and store their materials, products, and equipment indoors, with the building fully enclosed.
4. Cannabis use is prohibited on-site in any licensed cannabis facility.
5. Operating hours of any licensed cannabis facility are limited to 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
6. All licensed cannabis facilities must ensure that no cannabis odor is detected outside its boundaries.

Medical cannabis cardholders who have a cultivation permit, as well as anyone who is at least 21 years old and holds a consumer permit for personal cultivation, are allowed by the DHSS to cultivate cannabis at home for personal use. The latter is applied for through the Missouri Medical Marijuana Portal.

Cannabis for personal use must be grown in a totally enclosed portion of the grower's residence, safe from burglars, and hidden from the general public. A personal cultivator may grow up to 12 non-flowering plants and six mature plants, of which six must be under 14 inches in height. Licensed caregivers are allowed to grow cannabis for the personal use of several patients, but with a cap of 48 non-flowering plants and 24 mature plants, of which 24 must be less than 14 inches in height.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Cass County?

It is legal in Cass County to manufacture medical and adult-use cannabis products according to the State of Missouri’s Article XIV, as amended. As of August 2023, though, applications for comprehensive cannabis-infused product manufacturing facility licenses were closed.

The DHSS authorized the conversion of 72 medical cannabis manufacturing facility licenses into comprehensive cannabis-infused product manufacturing facility licenses in February 2023, allowing them to produce cannabis products for both medical and adult use. As of August 16, 2023, 89 cannabis-infused product manufacturing licensees were active across the state.

The DHSS cannabis microbusiness wholesale licensees will be able to manufacture medical and adult-use cannabis products beginning in October 2023.

The Cass County Zoning Regulations allow licensed cannabis manufacturing facilities only in the agricultural, light industrial, medium industrial, and heavy industrial district zones. All licensed cannabis manufacturing facilities must comply with the aforementioned requirements of Cass County Ordinance No. 23-01.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Cass County?

It is legal in Cass County to sell medical and adult-use cannabis and cannabis products by retail in accordance with the amended Article XIV of the State of Missouri. Medical cannabis and medical cannabis products are only allowed to be sold to medical cannabis cardholders. Recreational cannabis and recreational cannabis products are only allowed to be sold to individuals who are 21 years old and older. Applications for comprehensive cannabis dispensary facility licenses were closed, however, as of August 2023.

The DHSS granted 207 medical cannabis dispensary license conversions into comprehensive cannabis dispensary facility licenses in February 2023, allowing them to sell cannabis and cannabis products for both medical and adult use. As of July 26, 2023, there were 215 cannabis dispensary licensees across the state.

The DHSS will award two cannabis microbusiness dispensary licenses in every congressional area of the state in October 2023, with an additional two to be issued in 2024 and two more in 2025. Only disenfranchised small business owners will be awarded this license.

The Cass County Zoning Regulations allow licensed cannabis dispensary facilities only in the light commercial and commercial district zones. All licensed cannabis dispensaries must be compliant with the previously discussed Cass County Ordinance No. 23-01 requirements.

Adult-use cannabis retail sales in the State of Missouri began on February 3, 2023. Article XIV allows licensed medical and adult-use cannabis retail stores to sell raw cannabis, cannabis for vaping and smoking, ingestible cannabis products, edible cannabis products, and topical cannabis products.

Consumers who are at least 21 years old are allowed to buy three ounces of cannabis or the equivalent per transaction.

The purchasing restriction for medical cannabis cardholders every 30 days is six ounces of medical cannabis and its products. A doctor or nurse who is registered with the DHSS and has a current state license is required for certification if the patient needs more.

Before each medical cannabis transaction, the dispensary must scan the bar code behind the purchaser's medical cannabis card in order to capture the data in the online registry.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Cass County?

It is legal in Cass County to deliver medical cannabis and its products to the residences of medical cannabis cardholders and adult-use cannabis and its products to the residences of individuals who are 21 years old and older pursuant to the State of Missouri’s amended Article XIV.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Cass County

Cass County residents must apply for a medical cannabis card through the State of Missouri’s Medical Marijuana Portal. Before doing so, the patient must be examined by a DHSS-registered and state-licensed physician or nurse and be certified to have been diagnosed with one of the following qualifying ailments:

• A chronic ailment that requires prescription medicine, but for which medical cannabis is safer
• Cancer
• HIV
• A debilitating psychiatric disorder diagnosed by a state-licensed psychiatrist
• Intractable migraine
• Glaucoma
• Any debilitating chronic medical condition
• Terminal illness
• Severe chronic muscle spasms or pain
• Epilepsy
• AIDS
• Other debilitating chronic medical conditions, such as:
  • Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
  • Huntington’s disease
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Wasting syndrome
  • Sickle cell anemia
  • Autism
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Hepatitis C
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Cachexia
  • Neuropathies

If the patient is allowed to procure more than six ounces of medical cannabis in any given 30-day period, the certification must indicate the particular amount of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products allowed.

The patient must finalize the online application not more than 30 days after receiving the certification. For patients below age 18, a Parent/Legal Guardian Consent Form must be presented with the application. An adult patient who is designating a caregiver must complete a Patient Authorization Form. To validate identity and age, a government-issued photo ID and a clear passport-style digital photograph are also required. When the patient's application is accepted, the caregiver must also apply online. Each is charged $50.

The medical cannabis card is valid for three years and is processed in roughly 30 days. The digital card will subsequently be available for download or printing through the registry account.

Inquiries should be directed to the following:

Division of Cannabis Regulation

PO Box 570

Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570

Toll-Free Access Line: 866-219-0165 Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST

Email: Cannabisinfo@health.mo.gov

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Cass County?

Counties and municipalities in the State of Missouri may impose a 3% local sales tax on adult-use cannabis and adult-use cannabis products. On May 3, 2023, the Cass County Commission adopted the 3% county sales tax on retail sales of adult-use cannabis.

According to the Division of Cannabis Regulation, almost $12.69 million in cannabis transactions transpired in the state from February 3 to February 5, 2023. Medical marijuana brought in roughly $4.2 million, while adult-use cannabis brought in over $8.5 million.

Under Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution, each retail purchase of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products is levied a 4% state sales tax, whereas each retail purchase of cannabis and cannabis products for adult use is levied a 6% state sales tax.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Cass County

Medical cannabis was legalized in the State of Missouri, including Cass County, in 2018, and adult-use cannabis was legalized in 2022.

Data sent on the FBI Crime Explorer page shows that in 2017, a year before the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 20,786 marijuana possession arrests and 1,005 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 21,791 marijuana offense arrests in the state.

In 2019, a year after the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 15,462 marijuana possession arrests and 1,186 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 16,648 marijuana offense arrests across the state.

In 2021, the latest data showed 9,109 marijuana possession arrests and 614 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 9,723 marijuana offense arrests statewide.

The number of DUI arrests in the state during those years was as follows:

• 2017: 19,355 arrests
• 2019: 17,097 arrests
• 2021: 14,567 arrests