Although the state legalized MMJ in 2018, it wasn’t possible to legally buy it using a medical marijuana card in Missouri until October 2020. However, residents didn’t have to wait long for the state to take the next step, with recreational weed legalized just two years later.
As is the case with most other states, those with a medical marijuana card in Missouri have a few advantages over recreational users, including access to lower-cost products. One of the main reasons why residents of Missouri use medical marijuana is to help with pain management. The substance is particularly useful for individuals who would otherwise struggle to complete a full day’s work due to the intense pain they suffer.
Below, I outline Missouri’s marijuana laws and discuss how residents are using weed to help manage pain and ensure they remain productive employees and functional human beings.
What Are The Rules Surrounding MMJ in Missouri?
It’s fair to say that not everyone expected Missouri to legalize medical marijuana. Until 2014, there were harsh penalties in place for the possession of tiny amounts of the substance. Finally, SB 491 decreased the punishment for the possession of up to 10 grams of weed. Also, in 2014, the state implemented an MMJ bill of sorts, although it only allowed the use of CBD oil, and only patients with persistent seizures were eligible.
Then, Amendment 2 went on the ballot in November 2018. In a massive show of support, approximately two-thirds of voters said ‘yes’ to medical marijuana. It took 23 months, but finally, it was possible to use your medical marijuana card in Missouri to purchase weed from a licensed dispensary.
It is even possible to get your Missouri medical marijuana card online via services like MMJCardOnline. Since you can only complete the application online, this means you can effectively do everything without leaving the house. MMJCardOnline puts you in touch with a provider who, in turn, ensures you get a quick and easy online consultation with a qualifying physician. You need the doctor to provide a written recommendation for you to proceed with the application.
Once you have your medical marijuana card in Missouri, you’re allowed to buy and possess up to four ounces of dried and unprocessed weed every 30 days.
Full legalization has proven a game-changer insofar as adults aged 21+ can now purchase and possess up to three ounces.
Combatting Pain at Work with Medical Marijuana
One of the issues faced by MMJ users is the timing of their usage. If they test positive for THC metabolites in a workplace drug screening, they could lose their job even if they have a card. Thankfully, you don’t face the same issues with a medical marijuana card in Missouri.
In 2022, the state legislature passed an amendment to the existing MMJ law. If you have a valid MMJ card in Missouri, your employer can’t discriminate or take adverse action against you based on your usage of the substance. That is, as long as you follow the medical marijuana laws in the state.
So, if you live with chronic pain and need MMJ to manage it, you’re free to consume it when off-duty. Should you test positive for THC metabolites, you don’t have to worry about having your contract terminated.
It’s important to note that there are exceptions to this rule. For example, a trucking firm works under federal Department of Transportation rules. Thus, its employees can’t use marijuana since it is a federally illegal substance.
What having a medical marijuana card in Missouri could do is reduce the number of sick days taken by employees. Having MMJ to manage your pain could be the difference between completing a decent day’s worth and having to use up your allotted sick days.
Final Thoughts on Using Medical Marijuana for Pain Management
If you have access to medical marijuana in Missouri, not only are you able to legally use MMJ, but you also benefit from certain workplace protections. Using the substance could help decrease a person’s dependence on addictive opioid painkillers.
Of course, it should go without saying that you must consume the substance sensibly. This means not going to work stoned! Regardless of whether you have an MMJ card or not, going into work intoxicated will probably be grounds for dismissal!