Missouri is set to expand opportunities for marijuana research by allowing an unlimited number of licenses for this purpose. The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation has submitted proposed rules to the Secretary of State detailing the scope of activities permitted under a research license and outlining the application requirements and process.
“Ultimately, it’s just exciting to make progress on marijuana research because we know that that’s been historically difficult,” stated Rieka Yu, policy director for the division, which operates within the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Public Feedback and Legislative Process
The proposed rules will be available for public review in the May 1 issue of the Missouri Register on the Secretary of State’s website, with public feedback accepted until May 31. This initiative stems from the 2022 constitutional amendment, which approved recreational marijuana and permitted the establishment of licenses designed to “facilitate scientific research or education.”
Amy Moore, director of the division, noted the broad potential for research opportunities. “We’re all very interested in any research on cannabis and safety or its impact on the human body,” she explained. “Certainly as a public health agency, we’re interested in health research, but it’s not limited to that.”
Potential Research Areas
Yu expressed a keen interest in research focusing on cultivation practices. Similar to recent developments in New York, which established marijuana research regulations in 2023, Missouri aims to explore various aspects, including plant protection from viruses and the influence of light on growth.
Although the 2022 amendment authorized research licenses, Missouri must finalize administrative rules to launch them. This process began in August with a public request for informal feedback on a draft of these rules.
Another round of public feedback will begin in May, leading to the finalization of the rules for formal legislative action this summer. Once approved, the rules will undergo approximately eight months of legislative review before they can be published.
Funding Challenges for Cannabis Research
A national study conducted last year highlighted that while 17 out of 38 states with medical or adult-use cannabis laws have outlined a funding mechanism for research, Missouri is not among them. Of the 17 states with funding legislation, only 12 have actually allocated resources.
Moore indicated that the division could introduce limits or prioritize specific research topics; however, without allocated funding, attracting interest in the licenses could prove challenging. “Letting people decide right now seems advisable, since we’re just not seeing a lot of uptake in other states,” she emphasized, pointing out the ongoing challenges in advancing this initiative.