Introduction

At long last, Missouri’s medical marijuana dispensaries have opened their doors. Through the spring, as COVID-19 restrictions have loosened and people have emerged from the safety of their bunkers, those equipped with medical cards have been delighted to find that these purveyors of pot are finally prepared to peddle their products after a protracted period of pandemic-related pause that really put the “patience” in patients. Finally, now, legal cannabis can be acquired in the Show Me State.

But this new foray into lawful weed can be a bit overwhelming, and brings with it a lot of questions. How do I get a medical card? Where do I find a dispensary? Perhaps most importantly, considering the gobsmacking selection: How do I choose the strain that’s right for me?

Enter the Reeferfront Times’ Cannabis Dispensary Guide. This little book you’re holding in your hands aims to help walk you through Missouri’s new foray into the medical marijuana business by drilling down on some of those very queries. You’ll find a piece written by Jaime Lees about her experience securing a medical card — and why you probably can’t expect your primary care doctor to sign o on it for you, even if your particular health situation makes you an “ideal candidate.” You’ll also find a list, compiled by Daniel Hill, of all of the open dispensaries in the St. Louis area, including the recreational ones just across the river in Illinois, with a brief look at their prices and products. To help you make sense of why cannabis a ects us in the way it does, you’ll want to read Larry Gabriel’s article about just how marijuana stimulates our five senses. Capping it all o is a list of five of the finest strains available in the St. Louis area now, along with a rundown of their e ects, written by yours truly.

Let us be your guides through the wild new world of Missouri’s medical marijuana industry — and be sure to check back in with our weekly issues for more dedicated cannabis coverage. We’re here to help! —Thomas K. Chimchards, cannabis critic for the Riverfront Times