Learn About Missouri’s New Regulations MO Cannabis Licensing
In November 2022, Missourians voted to legalize recreational, adult-use marijuana. Amendment 3 effectively decriminalized the substance statewide and established a framework for marijuana microbusinesses — business licenses intended to allow more people to participate in the state’s growing marijuana industry.
Who can apply for a Missouri marijuana microbusiness license?
Licenses are targeted to people from marginalized or under-represented communities. A microbusiness license applicant must meet at least one of these criteria:
- Have a net worth under than $250,000 and an income below 250% of the federal poverty level
- Have a valid service-connected disability card issued by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
- Has been, or a person whose parent or guardian has been arrested, prosecuted or convicted of a non-violent marijuana offense;
- Resides in an area where 30% or more of the population lives below the federal poverty level, the unemployment rate is 50% higher than the state average or the historic rate of incarceration for marijuana-related offenses is 50% higher than the state average; or
- Graduated from a unaccredited school district or lived in a ZIP code with an unaccredited school.
How do you apply for a Missouri marijuana microbusiness license?
Application materials for microbusiness licenses will become available in early June 2023.
How many microbusiness licenses will be distributed?
Distribution of these licenses will occur on a lottery system. The first round of microbusiness licenses will be distributed in October 2023 — 48 microbusiness licenses will be distributed. Nine months later, an additional 48 will be awarded. In another nine months, a third round of 48 licenses will be distributed. In total 144 microbusiness licenses will have been made available by April 2025.
How much does a microbusiness license cost?
The microbusiness license application cost $1,500 per entity. This fee will be refunded if an entity is not chosen by the division’s lottery system. Licenses are valid for three years and are renewable.
Once granted, the licensee must pay an annual fee of $1,500 per facility license, except the first year, which will be exempt.
What kind of facilities can you operate with a microbusiness license?
A microbusiness licensee may operate a microbusiness wholesale facility or a microbusiness dispensary facility.
Dispensary facility license: allows an individual to acquire marijuana and marijuana-infused products from other microbusiness facilities and process, package, deliver and sell them to other microbusiness facilities or directly to consumers.
Wholesale facility license: allows an individual to cultivate, process, manufacture, transport and sell marijuana and marijuana-infused products to other microbusiness facilities. With a microbusiness wholesale facility license, an individual may cultivate up to 250 flowering plants at once.
Microbusiness dispensary facilities and wholesale facilities can only work with other microbusinesses. They may not work with medical or comprehensive dispensary and wholesale facilities. A microbusiness licensee may apply for a comprehensive or medical marijuana facility license, but a comprehensive or medical marijuana licensee cannot apply for a microbusiness license.
