Arthritis and medical marijuana in Missouri: do you qualify?
Very likely. Missouri doesn't limit certification to a fixed list — providers can recommend cannabis for conditions they believe it will help. That includes patients with arthritis when the provider agrees it's appropriate.
Yes. The constitution lets a physician certify any other chronic, debilitating or other medical condition in their professional judgment.
About arthritis
Moderate evidence. Arthritis-specific trials are few, but arthritis pain falls under chronic pain, where the National Academies found substantial evidence of benefit. Many patients prefer topicals for joint pain.
Symptoms Missouri patients most often hope to ease:
- Ongoing joint pain in the knees, hips, hands or back
- Stiffness after rest or first thing in the morning
- Pain that interrupts sleep
- Reduced ability to walk, grip or exercise
- Reliance on pain relievers that cause side effects
Read more: medical marijuana for arthritis.
How to get certified in Missouri
- See a Missouri physician or nurse practitioner for a certification (telemedicine is allowed if it meets the standard of care).
- Submit your application within 30 days of the certification date through the DHSS online registry portal.
- Upload a legible government-issued photo ID and a clear color photo of your face.
- Pay the patient card fee, and add the cultivation authorization if you want to grow.
- Wait for DHSS to decide, which it must do within 30 days.
- Buy at licensed dispensaries with your patient ID card.
Missouri allows the evaluation by telehealth, so you can see a Missouri-licensed provider by video. Our evaluation starts at $79 and is charged only if you're approved.
Costs and timeline
- State fee: $28.92 (July 2026-June 2027 fee schedule)
- Card lasts: 3 years
- Processing: DHSS has 30 days to process patient and caregiver applications
- Patient limit: 60-day supply (12 oz of dried, unprocessed marijuana or equivalent); up to 90-day supply for patients with cultivation authorization, with the excess locked up
- Home grow: With a cultivation authorization ($57.83): 6 flowering plants, 6 non-flowering plants over 14 inches and 6 under 14 inches per patient, in an enclosed, locked facility
- Recreational sales: Legal for adults 21+
- First visit online: Yes
See the full Missouri cost breakdown and Missouri program overview.
Other qualifying conditions in Missouri
- ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
- Alzheimer's disease
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Cachexia & wasting syndrome
- Cancer
- Chronic pain
- Crohn's & IBD
- Epilepsy & seizures
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis C
- Huntington's disease
- Migraines
- Neuropathy (nerve pain)
See every qualifying condition in Missouri
Arthritis in nearby states
Frequently asked questions
Do I need medical records for arthritis?
How long does certification take in Missouri?
Can I renew online in Missouri?
Sources
- DHSS - Cannabis Patient Services
- DHSS - Qualifying Medical Conditions
- DHSS - Patient & Consumer FAQs
- DHSS - Fee Schedule
- DHSS - Cultivation (Patient/Caregiver/Consumer)
- DHSS - General FAQs
- National Academies — The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2017)
This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. Laws change — confirm details with your state agency. State facts last checked October 7, 2026.