JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The rules for Missouri’s budding medical marijuana program have been finalized by the state and are set to go into effect next week.
On Friday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) released the final guidelines — which were filed as emergency rules and as proposed rules with the Missouri Secretary of State — for the upcoming industry.
The emergency rules go into effect on June 3. They will be in effect until the proposed rules, which are the same as the emergency rules, and any changes based public comments, are in effect.
The 11 rules cover definitions, general provisions, qualified patient/primary caregiver rules, medical marijuana establishments generally, cultivation facility, infused products manufacturing facility, testing facility, dispensary facility, seed-to-sale tracking, transportation, and physician/health care provider.
The department held multiple public forums across the state to get input from stakeholders and experts as it drafted the rules. DHSS then assembled advisory panels which held public meetings as they worked through the proposed regulations of specific areas.
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In a press release, DHSS wrote, “The department wants to thank the public for their input throughout the drafting process. DHSS received over 500 comments regarding the rulemaking process and rule suggestions, which significantly aided in the drafting process. Further, DHSS would like to thank the members of the 11 advisory panels who provided guidance and ultimately approved the facility application questions and methodology which will be used to select license recipients.”
Public comment on the final version of the proposed rules will be accepted during the month of July, and a public hearing will be held on the proposed rules.
In November, voters approved Amendment 2, which is now Article XIV of the Constitution, which legalized medical marijuana in Missouri and gave DHSS oversight of the industry.
Per the amendment, the department will begin accepting facility applications on August 3. A paper version of online facility application forms will be available on the DHSS website on or before June 4.
As of May 14, 510 nonrefundable pre-filed application fees — 153 for cultivation facilities, 277 for dispensary facilities and 80 for medical marijuana-infused manufacturing facilities — totaling $3,672,000 have been received by DHSS. Under the rules, licenses will be awarded to 60 cultivation facilities, 192 dispensary facilities, and 86 medical marijuana-infused manufacturing facilities.
More information about the implementation of Missouri’s medical marijuana program can be found at medicalmarijuana.mo.gov.
Alisha Shurr was a reporter for The Missouri Times and The Missouri Times Magazine. She joined The Missouri Times in January 2018 after working as a copy editor for her hometown newspaper in Southern Oregon. Alisha is a graduate of Kansas State University.
