Missouri voters approved Amendment 3, which will make it legal for those 21 and over to buy and use marijuana, and will create a state program regulating who can get licenses to grow and sell recreational marijuana.
rsugg@kcstar.com
Now that recreational marijuana is legal for adults 21 years and older in Missouri, weed enthusiasts and users can bypass the dispensaries and start growing their own bud.
The process is fairly simple, and you might be able to start your new garden up sooner than later. However, there are some details you should be aware of before you plant those seeds.
Cultivation cards
Since Missouri voters passed Amendment 3, which legalized adult use marijuana, those who want to grow their own bud can apply for a cultivation card through the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services. The department will make those applications available starting in January, and the department must start accepting applications by February. If approved, the card will cost $100 for recreational users and will last up to one year.
Medical marijuana patients are already eligible to apply for cultivation cards. With the new amendment, medical use cultivation cards will now last for three years at a time, instead of one. The cost of securing a medical cultivation card will also be cut in half, making it only $50 instead of $100.
How many marijuana plants you can grow
Home growers will be allowed to have up to 18 plants at a time. Growers can have up to six flowering plants, six non-flowering plants that can be up to 14 inches tall and six clone plants that are smaller than 14 inches tall. So, make sure no more than 12 plants are flowering at a time.
Home growing is only for personal use
All these plants must be grown for non-commercial use, which means you can’t sell them. According to the law, you also cannot give them to another person. If a person grows more than three ounces worth of marijuana, the access must be kept in their private residence.
Rules for where you grow
There are some restrictions on the set up as well. When growing your own bud at home, the plants need to be in a locked space in a private residence, like a room or shed. If the set up is outside, it still needs to be enclosed and locked. Most importantly, it should not be visible to other surrounding neighbors or from any public space.
If you are interested in starting up your garden in the new year, there are also a few shops in Kansas City that specialize in the tools and equipment needed. So if you have more questions about what kind of soil, lighting or nutrients, try reaching out to a local store. Here are a few places that will be able to answer your questions about getting started.
3816 Main St
816-379-3700
7837 Wornall Road
816-508-5354
3703 Main Street
816-569-5828
7302 N Oak Trafficway
816-400-4769
12 E Missouri Ave
816-421-1840
Kynala Phillips is a Service Journalism Reporter at The Kansas City Star, where she works to answer readers questions about the resources and services in the community. She attended the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is originally from Madison, Wisconsin.
