Missouri Marijuana Expungement
Missouri’s marijuana laws changed dramatically, and so did what happens to old marijuana records. Here is a plain-English look at what has already been cleared and what may still need a petition.
What changed in 2022
In November 2022, Missouri voters approved a constitutional amendment legalizing adult-use marijuana. Beyond legalization, it directed courts across the state to automatically expunge many past marijuana offenses for people who had completed their sentences, without those individuals having to file anything.
As a result, a large number of old misdemeanor marijuana records were cleared automatically, and many marijuana felony records were reviewed for expungement as well.
Was my marijuana record cleared automatically?
Many were, but not all, and the automatic process did not reach every situation. Records can be missed, misclassified, or fall outside what the automatic process covered, and offenses beyond simple marijuana possession may not have qualified.
If you are not sure whether yours was actually cleared, it is worth confirming rather than assuming; a record you think is gone can still surface on a background check if it was never formally expunged.
If it wasn’t cleared automatically
If your marijuana record was not caught by the automatic process, you may still be able to clear it by filing a petition under Missouri’s general expungement statute, RSMo § 610.140, the same path used for other eligible offenses.
That route has its own eligibility rules and waiting periods, and the specifics of your charge and history determine whether and when you qualify.
How to check where you stand
The fastest way to know is a free review: tell us the offense, the year, and the county, and we will check whether your marijuana record was already expunged or whether a petition is the right next step.
Common questions
Do I need to do anything to clear an old marijuana charge?
Often the 2022 change cleared qualifying marijuana records automatically, with no filing required. But not every record was reached, so if you are unsure whether yours was actually expunged, it is worth confirming rather than assuming.
What if my marijuana record wasn’t expunged automatically?
You may still be able to clear it by petitioning under Missouri’s general expungement law (§ 610.140). Eligibility depends on the specific offense and your history, which a free review can sort out.
Does legalization mean my record is automatically gone?
Not necessarily. Legalization changed the law going forward and cleared many past records automatically, but some records were missed or fell outside the automatic process. Confirming is the only way to be sure.
Missouri statutes & sources
Links go to the official Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Statutes can change; confirm the current text for your situation.
General information about Missouri law, not legal advice. Every case is different. Written & reviewed by Andrew Popplewell; last reviewed September 2026.