Missouri Voters Could Decide to Overhaul Cannabis Laws in 2026 Ballot

9 September 2025

Missouri’s cannabis policy could undergo a major transformation as activists push to unify hemp and marijuana regulation. On September 9, Missourians for a Single Market, a coalition backed by hemp business leaders, filed four initiative petitions with the Secretary of State’s Office. Their proposals, collectively called the Single Market Amendment, seek voter approval in 2026 to repeal the state’s constitutional adult-use marijuana framework and replace it with statutory rules treating cannabis like alcohol and tobacco.

The measures would:

• remove license caps,
• lower licensing fees to liquor license levels, and
• allow cannabis products to be sold in the same outlets as alcohol and tobacco.

They would:

• eliminate purchase and possession limits,
• permit adults to grow cannabis at home and sell it under testing requirements, and
• allow self-certification for medical use.

Each version also requires expungement of certain cannabis-related convictions and provides tax relief to cannabis businesses restricted under federal tax rules.

Taxation proposals vary, with some versions continuing Missouri’s cannabis tax for a decade and others moving immediately to an alcohol parity model. Either way, revenue would support state administrative costs and veteran health programs. Proponents argue this approach would expand the taxable base and improve fairness between hemp and marijuana businesses, which have been treated differently under state law despite both deriving from the cannabis plant.

Opposition from the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association is strong. The group contends that the initiative would undo constitutional protections approved by voters, disrupt a thriving industry, and drain hundreds of millions in annual revenue from communities and veterans’ programs. The association also highlights the risks of deregulating intoxicating hemp products, which have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and the attorney general.

Advocates must gather about 300,000 signatures, with 180,000 valid, by May 2026 to qualify the measure for the November ballot. The campaign’s trajectory could be shaped by ongoing legislative debates over ballot requirements and congressional redistricting. With both sides preparing for a high-stakes fight, Missouri voters may ultimately decide whether the state maintains its current cannabis framework or shifts to a more open-market model.