Communities Affected By Weed Criminalization Are Priority In Missouri's Microbusiness Program

Missouri has 48 microbusiness cannabis license winners under Amendment 3. Under the program, six winners were selected in each of the state's eight Congressional districts.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services posted the results this week, reported Missouri Independent.

Two of these six will serve as microbusiness dispensaries, while the remaining four will operate as microbusiness wholesale facilities, allowing their owners to cultivate up to 250 plants.

The 2022 law expanded the existing medical cannabis program statewide by allowing licensees who already sold cannabis statewide to serve both medical and non-medical buyers.

The "microbusiness license" program sought to hand out cannabis licenses to those in communities negatively affected by marijuana criminalization.

A total of 1,625 individuals submitted their applications within the application period - from July 27 to August 10.

"During this review, the department may request additional information or documents be provided by the applicant before a license is issued," according to a press release from the department issued on Monday. "Applicants will have three business days to provide the requested information, or the application will be subject to denial."

Meanwhile, the news comes on the heels of the state cannabis regulators introducing new rules to combat lab shopping.

The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has implemented a "round robin" testing approach that obliges certified labs to cross-check each other's work up to 10 times a year.

The move aims to ensure consistent THC potency results and prevent deceptive practices.

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Photo: Courtesy of Sora Shimazaki by Pexels