Federal funds pay a portion of the more than $80 million it takes to operate the homes, and Missouri officials don’t want to jeopardize that revenue stream. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs still considers pot an illegal drug, commission staff said.

Amendment 2 legalizes the cultivation of cannabis, as well as the production of marijuana and marijuana infused products to aid patients suffering from 10 debilitating illnesses, including Parkinson’s, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, epilepsy, glaucoma and cancer.

But, under a 2011 law signed by former Gov. Jay Nixon, the state developed a program to screen welfare applicants for drug use.

Under the TANF program, which provides cash benefits to an average of about 21,800 individuals and 9,400 families each month, the state requires officials to ask applicants about illegal drug use.

Recipients may be then required to take a drug test. If they do not show up for the appointment or do not complete the drug test, they will not receive benefits for themselves for three years.