Missouri medical marijuana patient applications reach two-year high in December

Missouri recorded its highest number of medical marijuana patient applications in two years in December 2025, continuing a broader recovery of the state’s medical marijuana program following an initial decline after adult-use legalization.

The state approved 2,119 medical marijuana patient applications in December 2025, the most since 2023.

Missouri legalized adult-use marijuana in 2022, a shift that typically leads to a reduction in medical marijuana card participation as some consumers transition to adult-use purchases. Missouri followed that pattern, with its active medical marijuana patient population declining sharply in the year after legalization.

   

The program reached its lowest recorded active patient count in December 2023, when only 106,627 patients were registered statewide. Since that point, Missouri has regained a significant portion of its medical marijuana patient base. By November 2025, the state reported  127,804 active medical marijuana patients, representing a substantial recovery from the post-legalization low.

While the number of active patients declined slightly from November to December 2025, the longer-term trend shows renewed engagement with Missouri’s medical marijuana program, supported in part by a renewed focus on medical and therapeutic use from industry participants and operators.