A resolution filed this week in the Missouri House would ask voters to rewrite the state constitution to impose significantly tighter restrictions on how marijuana can be advertised and promoted.
House Joint Resolution 103, filed last week by State Rep. Bruce Sassmann (R), proposes giving the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services explicit constitutional authority to regulate marijuana advertising at a level comparable to tobacco. If approved by voters, the amendment would allow the department to adopt rules governing marijuana marketing that are at least as strict as federal laws and regulations that apply to cigarette advertising.
The proposal does not itself spell out new advertising bans or specific restrictions, but instead establishes a constitutional framework under which state regulators could adopt and enforce tougher rules on how marijuana businesses promote their products. That could include limitations on where ads appear, how they are presented, and who they are allowed to target, mirroring long-standing restrictions placed on tobacco companies.
Missouri voters approved legal marijuana for adult use in November 2022, and retail sales began the following year. Since then, the state’s marijuana market has grown rapidly, with widespread advertising by dispensaries and brands across billboards, digital platforms and other media. HJR 103 signals renewed interest among some lawmakers in placing tighter controls on that marketing activity.
The resolution was read for the first time in the House on January 7, formally starting the legislative process. Because it proposes a constitutional amendment, the measure would ultimately require approval by both chambers of the legislature and a statewide vote by Missouri residents before taking effect.
A similar resolution was introduced during the 2025 session but did not advance.
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