The Department of Social Services went public this week saying recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) will not be impacted by medical marijuana use.
TANF recipients are drug-screened, per a law signed in 2011 by Gov. Jay Nixon.
Over 21,000 individuals and over 9,000 families receive TANF benefits monthly.
As long as a patient receiving TANF benefits has a medical marijuana card, there will be no risk of endangering the assistance, should they test positive for medical marijuna. Without a card, the state will require the recipients to receive substance abuse treatment.
“If an individual fails a drug test, testing positive for marijuana only, and does not have a medical marijuana card, they can receive TANF benefits only if they get substance abuse treatment,” DSS’ Rebecca Woelfel said.
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