Politics
Missouri Lawmakers Pre-File Multiple Marijuana And Psychedelics Bills For 2026 Session
Missouri lawmakers are preparing to once again tackle marijuana and psychedelics policy issues in the 2026 session.
Bipartisan members in the Senate and House of Representatives have pre-filed a series of bills in recent days that range from providing early release for people incarcerated for certain cannabis-related convictions to promoting access to alternative therapies such as psilocybin.
Missouri voters approved adult-use marijuana legalization at the ballot in 2022. But there’s been some tension among stakeholders about the state’s approach to cannabis regulations, which has been especially pronounced amid the debate over how the laws treat marijuana versus hemp.
With respect to psychedelics policy, a Republican-led bill to legalize the medical use of psilocybin by military veterans who are enrolled in clinical trials on the psychedelic passed in two House committees this year, but was later removed from the floor calendar.
Here are the summaries of the newly pre-filed cannabis and psychedelics measures:
- Rep. Adrian Plank (D)—HB 1896: Allows for early release for persons serving sentences for marijuana-related offenses.
- Rep. Adrian Plank (D)—HB 1897: Creates provisions relating to licenses for marijuana facilities.
- Rep. Adrian Plank (D)—HB 1898: Requires publicly funded state colleges and universities to allow medical marijuana use on campus.
- Rep. Bruce Sassmann (R)—HJR 103: Proposes a constitutional amendment relating to the advertising and promotion of marijuana sales.
- Rep. Mathew Overcast (R)—HJR 106: Proposes a constitutional amendment relating to products derived from cannabis plants.
- Rep. Mathew Overcast (R)—HB 1634: Modifies definition of commercial feed to include industrial hemp.
- Rep. Mathew Overcast (R)—HB 1643: Modifies provisions relating to alternative therapies and treatments, including psilocybin.
- Rep. Richard West (R)—HB 1717: Modifies provisions relating to alternative therapies and treatments, including psilocybin.
- Sen. Karla May (D)—SB 1026: Creates provisions regulating intoxicating cannabinoids
- Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R)—SB 1187: Regulates the use of marijuana in public places
- Sen. Barbara Washington (D)—SB 1307: Modifies provisions relating to use of marijuana by family court participants
- Sen. David Gregory (R)—SB 904: Creates provisions relating to cannabis
One of the measures by Overcast, HJR 106, seems to align with a ballot proposal that’s being led by a Missouri campaign that wants to unify hemp and marijuana regulations by creating parity between the two cannabis industries with a revised licensing system and legislative mandates to amend current laws.
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Missourians for a Single Market submitted four versions of the proposal with the secretary of state’s office in September. While the crux of the measures are the same, there are differences with respect to policies around taxes and regulatory authority over THC-infused beverages, for example.
The campaign said on Monday that the pre-filing of the comparable bill in the legislature represents a “major step forward for patients, caregivers, small businesses, farmers, and consumers across Missouri.”
Meanwhile, Missouri’s hemp market has been facing increased pressure from the state as officials attempt to crack down on businesses selling intoxicating cannabis products such as THCA outside of the marijuana program. The state attorney general sent over a dozen cease-and-desist orders to such businesses in June, threatening potential legal action for non-compliant businesses.
Lawmakers have contemplated multiple approaches, with different details on what kinds of products would be allowed and what limits would be set on THC levels in the products.
In February, legislation allowing low-dose intoxicating hemp beverages to continue to be sold in grocery and liquor stores was reported favorably by committees in both the House and Senate but was not enacted into law.
Image element courtesy of Kristie Gianopulos.
