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Understand Your Marijuana Charges In Missouri And Illinois

If you are under investigation or have been charged with a marijuana crime in the St. Louis area, you naturally have plenty of questions. At [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-2″], we consider it important to educate our clients about the legal issues in their criminal cases.

What follows is a sampling of general information about marijuana laws in Missouri and Illinois, including some discussion of relevant federal laws. We do not intend this presentation to be comprehensive. If you have been charged with a crime, you will need more detailed, personalized advice.

Marijuana Laws In Missouri

Medical dispensaries licensed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services have been legal and operational in the “Show Me State” since late 2020. Residents with special identification cards may legally purchase medical marijuana with doctors’ permission.

As of early 2022, Missourians with patient cultivation cards may grow up to six marijuana plants for medicinal use. However, the cultivation, possession and distribution of “weed” or “pot” for recreational use. are illegal.

Missouri allows patients with doctors’ approval to possess more medicinal marijuana than they would be allowed otherwise.

Law enforcement agents and prosecutors in St. Louis and St. Louis County tend to be more permissive than those elsewhere in the state.

Marijuana Laws In Illinois

Recreational marijuana and medicinal marijuana have been legal in Illinois since 2019 and 2014, respectively.

Illinois residents may grow up to five marijuana plants for specific medicinal use with the permission of doctors with whom they have established professional relationships.

Adults from anywhere can buy recreational marijuana in Illinois. However, Missourians cannot buy medical marijuana in Illinois.

Key Points In Both States

Both states allow minors with ID cards to obtain and use cannabis products for medicinal purposes.

Neither state allows people to buy medicinal marijuana with out-of-state ID cards.

Harsh Federal Laws Regarding State Border Crossings

Regardless of increased permissiveness in state laws, it is a federal crime to transport marijuana in either direction across the river between St. Louis, Missouri, and East St. Louis, Illinois.

Because of mandatory sentencing guidelines, trafficking charges with potentially severe penalties may occur when large quantities of marijuana are carried across the state line.

For Skillful Counsel And Defense, Contact Us.

Turn to our St. Louis drug crime defense attorneys for representation in Missouri or Illinois.

To discuss your criminal case at the local, state or federal level in either state, reach out to us by email or call (314) 354-8484.