Last verified: March 2026

Understanding Your Options

Missouri dispensaries carry a full range of cannabis products, and every item on every shelf was cultivated, manufactured, and tested in Missouri. The state does not permit imports, which means the quality you experience reflects Missouri's own growers and producers. Here is what you will find and how each method works.

Flower (Dried Cannabis Bud)

Flower accounts for approximately 50% of all cannabis sales in Missouri and remains the most popular consumption method. It is the dried, cured bud of the cannabis plant, ready to be smoked in a pipe, bong, or rolled into a joint.

• Onset: 1–5 minutes
• Duration: 1–3 hours
• Average price: $26.13 per eighth (3.5g)
• Best for: Experienced consumers, those who want precise dose control through titration
• Missouri standouts: Flora Farms (#1 flower), Illicit Gardens (30+ strains/year), Proper Cannabis, Sinse

Pre-Rolls

Pre-rolls are the fastest-growing category in Missouri cannabis, with sales up 10.7% year-over-year. They are ready-to-smoke joints that require no preparation — just light and inhale.

• Onset: 1–5 minutes
• Duration: 1–3 hours
• Options: Singles, multi-packs, infused (coated in concentrate and/or kief for higher potency)
• Best for: Convenience, social settings, visitors who do not want to purchase accessories

Vape Pens & Cartridges

Vaporizers heat cannabis oil to produce an inhalable vapor without combustion. They are discreet, portable, and produce less odor than smoking flower.

• Onset: 1–5 minutes
• Duration: 1–3 hours
• Types: 510-thread cartridges (universal), proprietary pod systems, disposable all-in-one pens
• Best for: Discretion, portability, hotel visitors, those who prefer less odor

Edibles

Edibles are cannabis-infused food and beverage products — gummies, chocolates, baked goods, beverages, mints, and more. They pass through the digestive system, producing a different experience than inhalation.

• Onset: 30 minutes to 2 hours (sometimes longer)
• Duration: 4–8 hours (can be longer at high doses)
• Dosing: Start with 2.5–5mg THC. Wait at least 2 hours before taking more.
• Best for: Longer-lasting effects, those who do not want to inhale, precise dosing

Concentrates

Concentrates are highly potent cannabis extracts available in various forms. They typically contain 50–90% THC compared to 15–30% in flower.

• Types: Wax, shatter, live resin, live rosin, budder, diamonds, sauce
• Onset: Immediate to 5 minutes
• Duration: 1–3 hours
• Best for: Experienced consumers with high tolerance. Not recommended for beginners.
• Missouri events: The Mid-Mo Hash Cup in Columbia showcases Missouri's best concentrates

Topicals & Tinctures

These products offer cannabis benefits without the traditional "high" (in the case of topicals) or with sublingual absorption (tinctures).

• Topicals: Creams, balms, lotions, transdermal patches applied to the skin. Most do not cross the blood-brain barrier and are non-intoxicating.
• Tinctures: Liquid cannabis extracts taken under the tongue (sublingual). Onset is faster than edibles (15–45 minutes) with more precise dosing.
• Best for: Localized pain relief (topicals), patients who need precise dosing without inhalation (tinctures)

Consumption Method Comparison

Ask Your Budtender

Missouri's budtenders are knowledgeable professionals. If you are unsure which product or consumption method is right for you, tell your budtender your experience level, what effects you are looking for, and any concerns. They will guide you to an appropriate product and dose.