How To Become a Budtender in Missouri: Step-by-Step Guide

May 23 / Jenifer Marks, Esq.

Cannabis is legal for both medical and adult-use in Missouri, and dispensaries across the state are hiring. If you're wondering how to become a budtender in Missouri, this guide breaks down the legal requirements, what dispensaries are looking for, and how to land the job—even if you're just getting started.

Our FREE Medical Cannabis Class is the perfect way to get started in expanding your knowledge of the medical marijuana market in Missouri and beyond!

Yes—Missouri has legalized both medical and recreational cannabis.

🟢 Medical cannabis: legalized via Missouri Amendment 2 (passed in 2018) – Medical Marijuana Legalization

🟢 Recreational cannabis: cannabis became legal via Missouri Amendment 3 (passed in 2022 for adults 21+)

That means licensed dispensaries in Missouri now serve both medical patients and recreational customers—opening the door to more jobs, more stores, and more diverse consumer needs.

A budtender in Missouri is a dispensary employee who helps customers choose the right cannabis products (either medical or recreational) based on their needs, preferences, and level of experience.

Typical responsibilities include:

🟢 Verifying ID and eligibility (21+ or medical cardholders)

🟢 Recommending products like flower, vapes, edibles, or topicals

🟢 Explaining effects, cannabinoids, and dosing

🟢 Complying with Missouri’s medical and recreational cannabis regulations

🟢 Providing excellent customer service and product knowledge

Budtenders in Missouri often assist both medical patients and adult-use customers in the same dispensary—so the ability to adjust your communication style is key.

Want to learn more about medical marijuana in Missouri? Enroll in our FREE Medical Cannabis Class!

To legally work at a licensed cannabis facility in Missouri, you must:

1. Be at least 21 years old

All new facility agents must be at least 21 years of age. Individuals under 21 who already possess a valid agent ID may continue working, but no new under-21 agents are permitted.

2. Pass a fingerprint-based criminal background check

Required by the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS). Employers may also run their own screenings.

3. Receive a job offer from a licensed cannabis business

Proof of employment is required before applying for your Facility Agent ID.

4. Apply for and obtain a Facility Agent ID through the DHSS

This ID is mandatory for anyone working in a licensed cannabis facility—including dispensaries.

🟢 The Facility Agent ID is required before you begin working in any licensed cannabis facility. You cannot apply without a confirmed job offer.

Our FREE Medical Cannabis Class is the perfect way to get started in expanding your knowledge of the medical marijuana market in Missouri and beyond!

In Missouri, you must have a job offer from a licensed cannabis business before you can apply for your Facility Agent ID. That means your first goal is to land the job—then apply for your ID through the state.

Here’s how to stand out and get hired:

1. Take a budtender certification course – Not required, but it shows initiative and gives you real product and compliance knowledge (start FREE here).

2. Build strong customer service skills – Experience in retail, food service, or healthcare is a big advantage.

3. Understand Missouri cannabis rules – Be familiar with ID verification, purchase limits, and safe consumption methods.

4. Be professional and enthusiastic – Dispensaries want people who care about the customer experience and know how to stay compliant.

5. Apply locally and follow up – Most jobs are posted on platforms like Indeed, Vangst, or company websites, but walking in with a polished resume can also make a big impression.

Missouri residents can legally purchase hemp-derived Delta-8 THC products at vape shops and hemp stores—no medical card or dispensary visit required.

However, marijuana-derived Delta-8 is only available through state-licensed dispensaries and sold to qualified patients or adults 21+. Read more about Delta-8 here.

💡 If you're applying to a dispensary, knowing the difference between hemp- and marijuana-derived cannabinoids can help you answer customer questions with confidence (and it can help you land a job).

Learn all about the differnaces between hemp and cannabis prodcuts in our FREE in our Medical Cannabis Class!