Before taking your summer road trip, look at the laws within the states you will be visiting to ensure you are mindful of your rights.
Many citizens travel back and forth between Kansas and Missouri for work or pleasure, and with these new laws in place, the last thing you want is to get caught up in the confusion.
Recreational Marijuana Use in Missouri
The newest law in Missouri was the legalization use of recreational marijuana. However, marijuana is still classified as an illegal substance federally. This means that any recreational use must stay within the confines of the state of Missouri.
Even if you are to travel to a state that has also legalized marijuana, you are not allowed to exit state lines with the drug. Crossing state boundaries with the drug is illegal, and the amount of marijuana you have on your person will usually dictate the repercussions.
Medical Marijuana Use in Missouri
Many of the travel questions originate from those who use marijuana medically. This drug is known to help people both physically and mentally. While it can be considered a medication, there are still regulations surrounding it when it comes to traveling and purchasing it in other states.
With Kansas considering marijuana illegal in any form, bringing it into the state, even if you have a medical card, is against the law. If you are found to have marijuana on your person, a medical card might lessen the repercussions, but you will still find yourself disobeying the laws enforced in Kansas. It is wise to simply keep substances at home or visit a state that has legalized medical marijuana.
However, be cautious, as crossing state lines with marijuana is still illegal. There are times that states have medical marijuana reciprocity, allowing those with medical cards to purchase weed in fellow legal states. Oklahoma and Arkansas have this in place. However, under Missouri’s DHSS, there is no reciprocity between Missouri’s medical marijuana laws and other states, meaning that even with your medical card, you can not use it to purchase legal weed from another state. Temporary cards are available if you believe you will be there long enough.
With all the new changes in Missouri, it is essential to keep yourself informed in order to be safe in whatever you do in and out of state. If you have further questions, contact the team at Baldwin & Vernon.