Missouri State Senator Nick Schroer (R) has introduced legislation that would strengthen privacy protections for medical marijuana patients, and to ensure that intoxicating cannabinoids are classified and regulated in the same manner as marijuana.
Senate Bill 54, prefiled on December 1 for the 2025 session, introduces provisions to protect patient and consumer data while refining oversight of intoxicating cannabinoid products and dispensary operations.
Under SB 54, state agencies and employees would be prohibited from sharing personally identifying information of medical marijuana patients or caregivers with the federal government, federal employees, or any unauthorized third parties. Violating this provision would constitute a Class E felony.
The bill also addresses privacy concerns at retail dispensaries. Upon receiving a written request from a consumer, dispensaries would be required to delete any records containing personal information, except in cases where the law mandates record-keeping for qualifying patients and caregivers. Dispensaries that fail to comply would face fines of $500 per violation.
The proposal would also establish the “Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Act”. Under this act, “intoxicating cannabinoid products shall be considered as marijuana and regulated as marijuana is regulated by the Department of Health and Senior Services under the Missouri Constitution. The Department shall collaborate with the Department of Public Safety to enforce the provisions of this act”, states the bill’s official summary.
“Hemp, industrial hemp, and hemp-derived products containing no intoxicating cannabinoids shall not be subject to regulation under this act”, it notes.
Another notable provision of the bill restricts the use of the term “dispensary” in business names to licensed marijuana retail outlets, including comprehensive and microbusiness facilities. Proponents say this would eliminate confusion and “protect the integrity” of state-sanctioned marijuana dispensaries.
Missouri’s marijuana industry has expanded rapidly since voters approved recreational marijuana legalization in 2022. Licensed retail outlets began serving customers in February 2023, allowing those 21 and older to purchase up to three ounces of marijuana or cultivate up to six plants for personal use. This built on the foundation of the state’s medical marijuana program, which began with voter approval in 2018 and saw its first dispensaries open in October 2020.
