Waynesville, MO Public Conduct: Public Marijuana Use (2026)

Section 210.310 of the Waynesville Municipal Code defines "openly" as occurring in a manner that is unconcealed, undisguised or obvious, and "publicly" as occurring in a public place or in any outdoor location where the consumption is clearly visible and observable from a public place. "Public place" is defined broadly to include streets and highways, schools, parks, playgrounds and the common areas of public and private buildings and facilities, so a visible balcony, porch or parking lot can qualify if it fronts one of those areas.

The ordinance also reaches distribution: except for duly licensed medical marijuana facilities, no one may display, transfer or distribute marijuana within one thousand (1,000) feet of the perimeter of any public or private school, or on any City-owned street, sidewalk or other City property. The Waynesville Police Department enforces the section on patrol and at the city's own parks and playgrounds, including Waynesville Roubidoux Park. Section 210.310 carries no fine of its own; a conviction is punished under the city's general penalty, § 100.020, which applies the Uniform Fine Schedule for Municipal Offenses plus court costs through the Municipal Court under Chapter 125.

The ordinance was adopted by Ord. No. 661 and amended by Ord. No. 2368 on June 20, 2019, and it exists alongside the separate ban on possessing drug paraphernalia in § 210.330 and the synthetic-marijuana ban in § 210.315.