Missouri Launches Its Legal Recreational Cannabis Market Early

Adult-use, recreational cannabis became legally available in Missouri on Friday, February 3 – three days earlier than planned.

Originally, the Missouri Department of Health was going to issue its licenses on Monday, February 6. But on Thursday, February 2, it made the surprise announcement that it would issue licenses early to the pre-existing medical dispensaries that had qualified for them.

The department has approved 207 of the state’s medical dispensaries to convert their license to sell adult-use cannabis; on Friday, February 3, 196 of these dispensaries were given the go-ahead to operate.

Licenses were also issued to 72 manufacturers and 56 cultivation facilities.

Voters in Missouri approved cannabis legalization in a ballot on November 8 last year, during the mid-term election.

Adults aged 21 and over in the state can now purchase and possess up to three ounces (85 grams) of cannabis and grow up to six plants at home. A 6% cannabis sales tax will help fund veterans’ health care and substance misuse treatment. Automatic expungements will also be processed for people with certain non-violent marijuana offenses on their criminal records.