Missouri’s new marijuana research regulations will officially take effect November 30, establishing a licensing framework that allows approved facilities to conduct studies involving human and animal subjects, cultivate marijuana for research and develop new marijuana genetics.
The regulations, known as 19 CSR 100-1.200, were finalized earlier this year and published in the October 1 edition of the Missouri Register. The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation has since confirmed the November 30 effective date, bringing the state closer to implementing its dedicated marijuana research licensing program.
Under the rules, licensed research facilities will be allowed to cultivate marijuana, manufacture and process marijuana products, conduct controlled studies and administer marijuana to research participants. Facilities may also acquire products from licensed cultivators and manufacturers, transfer products between research facilities and collaborate with public institutions.
Human research may include adults 21 and older, as well as participants younger than 21 who hold medical marijuana patient identification cards. Such studies must undergo institutional review and be monitored by a licensed physician, with a principal investigator possessing at least five years of experience conducting human-subject research.
Animal research will also be permitted, subject to additional requirements. Facilities must maintain an animal welfare research registration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and receive approval from an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Studies must be monitored by a licensed veterinarian.
The regulations also allow researchers to develop and study new marijuana strains, cultivars and genetic lines, including testing different cultivation methods and production techniques. Seeds and clones developed through approved research may be transferred or sold to licensed cultivation facilities.
Obtaining a research license will require a nonrefundable $500 application fee, while each proposed study will require a separate $250 application fee. Facilities must also pass a commencement inspection and receive state approval for individual research projects before beginning operations.
Although the regulations become effective November 30, that does not mean research facilities can immediately begin conducting studies. The Division of Cannabis Regulation has indicated it is preparing for implementation of the research licensing program in early 2027.
Related posts:
DEA Proposes 2027 Marijuana Production Quotas, Confirms Separate Schedule III Limits Are Being Devel...
Florida Proposes Permanent Rules Allowing Marijuana Companies to Buy From Competitors Following Crop...
