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Crohn's Disease and cannabis in Missouri

The state explicitly lists this condition under its medical cannabis program. A certifying physician can pursue state registration for a patient with this diagnosis under the program rules.

Listed qualifying condition
✓ Yes
LEGAL
Up to 4 oz per 30-day s…
POSSESSION
$25/yr
STATE FEE
3–21 d
TIMELINE
Listed qualifying condition. The state explicitly lists this condition under its medical cannabis program. A certifying physician can pursue state registration for a patient with this diagnosis under the program rules.

Missouri statute and program

The Missouri Medical Marijuana Program is the operating authority for Missouri patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: Missouri Constitution Article XIV: Cannabis (Amendments 2 + 3).

What the evidence says about cannabis and Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, leading to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, and malnutrition. The inflammation can occur anywhere from the mouth to the anus, often in patchy distributions. Severity varies widely; some patients experience prolonged remissions on biologic therapy, while others require multiple surgeries.

For the full evidence base, including the NASEM tier, randomized trial summaries, and symptom-domain breakdown, read the mmjnow Crohn's Disease page.

How to qualify in Missouri

The Missouri Medical Marijuana Program requires the following registration steps for a Crohn's Disease patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):

  1. Get a physician certification from a Missouri-licensed physician. Under Missouri Constitution Article XIV (Amendment 2 of 2018, expanded by Amendment 3 of 2022), any Missouri-licensed physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant authorized to prescribe controlled substances may certify a patient. Missouri uses a broad practitioner-discretion standard: the practitioner certifies that, in their professional judgment, the patient may benefit from medical use of marijuana — no enumerated condition list applies.
  2. Apply through the Division of Cannabis Regulation patient portal. The patient creates an account in the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) patient portal, uploads the physician certification, a Missouri driver license or state ID, a passport-style photograph, and proof of Missouri residency. Caregivers register separately and undergo a state background check.
  3. Pay the $25 state registration fee. The annual Missouri medical marijuana patient ID card fee is $25 (reduced from $100 under 2023 DCR rules). Patients with a documented terminal illness pay no fee. Caregivers are $25 per caregiver. Fees are paid online during the DCR portal application.
  4. Receive the card and purchase from a Missouri dispensary. Missouri medical marijuana patient ID cards are issued within roughly 30 days of complete application (typically faster — many patients receive cards within 5 to 7 business days). With the card, patients may purchase up to 6 ounces over a 30-day rolling period from any of the licensed Missouri medical dispensaries. Adult-use retail also operates statewide for adults 21+; medical patients retain lower 4% medical excise tax versus the 6% adult-use rate, plus statutory employment protections.
State registration fee
$25
Physician visit (typical)
$125–$250
Certification to card
3–21 days
Out-of-state patients
Not eligible
Minors
Eligible with caregiver

For full Missouri registration steps, fees, and reciprocity rules, see the Missouri cannabis-laws page.

ICD-10 code

A certifying physician documenting Crohn's Disease for the Missouri medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 K50.90 or SNOMED-CT 34000006 in the patient's record. The state registry does not itself collect ICD-10 codes in most programs, but the physician's chart is the audit trail if the certification is later reviewed.

Frequently asked questions

Does Missouri list Crohn's Disease as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

Yes. Missouri explicitly lists Crohn's Disease as a qualifying condition under Missouri Medical Marijuana Program. A patient with a documented Crohn's Disease diagnosis can pursue state-program certification with a physician registered in the state. The qualifying-condition list is set by state statute or regulation and may change. Inclusion on the list does not guarantee certification — a physician still has to evaluate the patient and decide that medical cannabis is appropriate for that specific case under Missouri rules.

How do I get a Missouri medical marijuana card for Crohn's Disease?

Step one is finding a physician licensed in Missouri who is registered with Missouri Medical Marijuana Program and willing to evaluate Crohn's Disease cases. Step two is collecting your records (diagnosis documentation, treatment history, and the ICD-10 code your physician will use) and bringing them to the certification visit. Step three is the physician's certification through the state registry, followed by the patient registration application, state fee, and waiting period before the card is issued. Missouri does not honor out-of-state cards, so the certification process has to originate inside the state. Verify the patient minimum age with the state program before applying. Confirm the current process with the state regulator before applying, because the rules change.

What does the evidence say about cannabis for Crohn's Disease?

For Crohn's Disease, evidence is described as limited (a small number of supportive studies, often underpowered or focused on narrow symptom domains). The mmjnow condition page for Crohn's Disease lays out the current evidence base, including the citations underlying that evidence tier — typically the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consensus reports, federal agency guidance, and peer-reviewed reviews. Evidence quality is independent of state law: a state can list a condition for which evidence is limited, and a state can decline to list a condition for which evidence is strong. Patients deciding whether to pursue medical cannabis for Crohn's Disease should review the underlying evidence (linked on the condition page) and discuss expected benefit, dosing, and risk with a clinician familiar with both Crohn's Disease and cannabinoid pharmacology. Cannabis is not a substitute for evidence-based first-line treatments for Crohn's Disease; the evidence position above describes whether trial data supports its use, not whether it should replace standard care.

Sources

  1. Missouri Constitution Article XIV: Cannabis (Amendments 2 + 3)accessed May 15, 2026
  2. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: Division of Cannabis Regulationaccessed May 15, 2026
  3. NORML: Missouri Lawsaccessed May 15, 2026
  4. NASEM: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2017)accessed May 15, 2026
  5. Crohn's & Colitis Foundation: Cannabis and IBDaccessed May 15, 2026