Can You Grow Weed in Missouri? 

The month of February has brought Missouri residents much to celebrate. February 3, 2023 marked the first day adult residents of the state could purchase recreational use cannabis. Then, on February 12, the Kansas City Chiefs won their third Super Bowl.

Besides celebrating the end of cannabis prohibition and the Chief’s second championship in the last three years, something else significant occurred for cannabis lovers across the state.

As a result of the passing of Amendment 3, adult Missouri residents were given the right to grow their own recreational use cannabis. But before you run out and start throwing cannabis seeds around in your yard, there are a few things you need to know.  

Are Weed Seeds Illegal In Missouri?

No, weed seeds are not illegal in Missouri.

Cannabis seeds have been legal for some since residents voted to legalize medical marijuana on November 6, 2018. And with the passing of Amendment 3 in November of 2022, the same became true for adult Missouri residents who want to grow their own cannabis.

Actually, it may have been legal to own seeds on the Federal level earlier than that.

You see, back in January of 2022, an official from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confirmed that cannabis seeds fall under the legal definition of hemp and as a result are legal in the eyes of the Federal government.

Terrence Boos, Chief of the Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section of the Diversion Control Division of the DEA  said, “Marihuana seed that has a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis meets the definition of ‘hemp’ and thus is not controlled under the CSA.”

So, when someone asks, “are weed seeds legal in the U.S.?” The answer is that it depends.

Although they are considered legal Federally, that does not mean they are legal in all states. So, before you try to buy seeds, make sure they are legal in your state. 

In the case of Missouri residents, cannabis seeds are legal. But just because they’re legal, that does not mean anyone can grow as much weed as they want  in Missouri.

That’s why we’re going to provide you with a basic overview of Missouri’s recreational weed growing laws.

Missouri Adult-Use Cannabis Cultivation Cards

Starting in February of 2023, Missouri residents 21 years of age or older were able to submit an application to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to obtain a personal cultivation license.

The DHSS made applications available in January and started accepting applications on February 6.

An adult-use cannabis cultivation license will cost $100 and will provide card holders the right to grow a certain number of marijuana plants at home.

Personal cultivation licenses have to be renewed each year. 

How Many Cannabis Plants Can You Grow?

Missouri personal cultivation card holders are allowed to grow no more than 18 plants. But you need to be careful because not all 18 of those plants can be mature and flowering at the same time. Only 6 of your plants can be mature and at the flowering stage.

Dan Viets who is an attorney for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) – said: “Every person age 21 and older in the state of Missouri is authorized and has a constitutional right to cultivate up to 18 plants, six mature, six that measure 14 inches but are not mature, and six under 14 inches – seedlings or clones.”1

Missouri’s home cannabis grower application opens soon. What to know before applying

To clarify, a Missouri cultivation card holder can grow a total of 18 plants. Of those 18 plants:

  • 6 can be mature plants
  • 6 can be plants that measure 14 inches, but are not mature
  • 6 can be seedlings or clones that measure less than 14 inches

Where Can You Grow Adult-Use Cannabis?

Besides limits on the number of plants you can grow, there are also rules on where you can grow your plants.

You can grow outside, but it must be in an area that’s locked and not visible to the public. 

It’s also  important to clarify that the cannabis you grow must be for personal use and cannot be sold.  You might be able to share, however. According to attorney Dan Viets, “… people who cultivate do have the right to share with others up to three ounces, in fact, under Article 14.”1

Changes to Medical Marijuana Cultivation Cards in MO

Medical marijuana patients were already eligible to apply for Medical Marijuana cultivation cards in Missouri. What has changed as a result of the passing of Amendment 3 is that medical cultivation cards will now be good for three years, instead of just one.

Another positive change for medical cultivation card holders is that the cost of a medical marijuana cultivation license will drop from $100 to $50.

Why It’s Important to Register to Grow Weed in Missouri

Although some people may feel that the process of registering to grow cannabis at home might be a hassle, it can actually be a good thing that can help you avoid problems with law enforcement. 

By registering to grow, you can avoid having the police show up at your door with a search warrant. Instead, police will know that you are licensed to grow legally. What this does is basically reduce the chance of a police raid for a few cannabis plants. 

Instead, you may have someone show up and ask to see your grow operation to make sure you are following the rules.

Now that we’ve covered the basics of the laws you need to know about growing your own cannabis at home in Missouri, let’s actually get into some tips on how to get started.

How to Select the Best Weed Seeds in Missouri

After you have sent in your application for a personal cultivation license to the DHSS, the next step is to find yourself some quality seeds – emphasis on the quality. We say that because there will be some work involved in growing your cannabis. And, if you start with low-quality seeds, it doesn’t matter how well you accomplish the remaining steps – you will most likely end up with low-quality bud – AKA schwag.

So, before jumping ahead on to the next steps, make sure you have access to some quality seeds. Also make sure to take the time to find seeds of the strains you know you like. The last thing you want to do is spend time growing some plants only to discover you really don’t like that strain.


In case you could use a little help, we highly recommend the work of Brother Mendel. A purveyor of premium cannabis genetics, Brother Mendel’s Selection took 1st Place in the 2021 Autoflower Cup. 

Autoflower means the plants will make the switch from the vegetative growth stage to the flowering stage without you having to induce flowering through light manipulation. If you are new to growing your own cannabis, these types of seeds could be suitable.

Brother Mendel is based in Missouri and offers discrete and trackable shipping. 

Growing Cannabis Legally – Indoors vs. Outdoors

Once you’ve obtained your seeds, the next step will be to decide if you plan to grow your plants indoors or outdoors. To help you decide, we are going to list some of the benefits of each method.

Some Advantages of Growing Cannabis Outdoors: 

  • Lower Costs – outdoor grows are able to take advantage of natural light and rain. By doing so, this can help keep your costs low. 
  • A Reduced Environmental Impact – by utilizing natural light and rain, your home grow operation will have a much smaller carbon footprint.
  • Higher Output plants grown outdoors can grow to twice the size of plants grown indoors.
  • Improved Flavor – plants grown outdoors will tend to have a more complex flavor profile that occurs as a result of the plant adapting to environmental conditions.

What is the Best Time to Start Growing Weed Outside?

If you plan on growing outdoors, timing is of the essence. You’ll need to secure your seeds and germinate them in February or March so you can give your seedlings time to sprout and grow a little bit before planting them outdoors. In places like Missouri where the weather can get pretty cold, you should aim to get your plants in the ground in late April or early May when the weather warms up a bit.2

Some Advantages of Growing Cannabis Indoors:

  • Less Pests – indoor grows allow you to better protect plants from pests like spider mites and fungus gnats 
  • Temperature Control – it can be much easier to control the temperature, humidity, and lighting 
  • Higher THC Levels – indoor environments can make it easier to manipulate light cycles to help boost THC levels
  • Tighter Security – an indoor grow can be much easier to lock down
  • Year-round cultivation – you can grow any time of year, regardless of the conditions outside

Recent Changes Give Missouri Residents Greater Access to Cannabis

Regardless of whether you grow your plants indoors or outdoors, the opportunity for adult residents of Missouri to purchase, possess, and legally grow their own cannabis at home is definitely something worth celebrating. 

So, submit your applications, buy your seeds, and get ready to enjoy the benefits of growing your own cannabis at home. But, if you feel like growing your own cannabis is too much work, no judgment from us.

If you live in a state with a Bloom dispensary, feel free to browse our menu of premium cannabis flower, products, and accessories.  

 _____________________________

  1. Missouri’s home cannabis grower application opens soon. What to know before applying
  2. 5 Reasons Why It’s the Perfect Time to Start Growing Cannabis