Medical
Whether a state has medical or recreational cannabis use and sale allowed is important to any current or prospective cannabis business owner because the status of the cannabis regulations largely impacts the business's consumer base. In medical only states such as Missouri, the consumer pool is limited to medical marijuana registration card holders.
Once a state legalizes recreational marijuana for adult-use, the potential consumer base drastically expands from only medical marijuana cardholders to include any adult over 21+. The businesses which have been operating in the medical marijuana market in Missouri anticipate doing exceedingly better once recreational cannabis is allowed.
Missouri voters approved the legalization of medical marijuana via Amendment 2 in 2018, by 65.5% approval. This high percentage of approval gives hope that when recreational cannabis is voted on it has a good chance of passing.
Title 19—DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES
Division 30—Division of Regulation and Licensure
Chapter 95—Medical Marijuana
19 CSR 30-95.010 Definitions
(35) “Qualifying medical condition” means the condition of, symptoms related to, or side-effects from the treatment of—
(A) Cancer;
(B) Epilepsy;
(C) Glaucoma;
(D) Intractable migraines unresponsive to other treatment;
(E) A chronic medical condition that causes severe, persistent pain or persistent muscle spasms, including, but not limited to, those associated with multiple sclerosis, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, and Tourette’s syndrome;
(F) Debilitating psychiatric disorders, including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder, if diagnosed by a state licensed psychiatrist;
(G) Human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome;
(H) A chronic medical condition that is normally treated with a prescription medication that could lead to physical or psychological dependence, when a physician deter- mines that medical use of marijuana could be effective in treating that condition and would serve as a safer alternative to the prescription medication;
(I) Any terminal illness; or
(J) In the professional judgment of a physician, any other chronic, debilitating or other medical condition, including, but not limited to, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, Huntington’s disease, autism, neuropathies, sickle cell anemia, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, cachexia, and wasting syndrome.
(36) “Qualifying Patient” means a Missouri resident diagnosed with at least one (1) qualifying medical condition.
