Missouri Microbusiness Cannabis Licenses – For the ‘Everyday’ Missourian
Cannabis License Details & Tips for Missouri Microbusinesses
While Missouri medical facilities are well underway converting their licenses to accommodate adult-use sales, don’t expect to see new large-scale, comprehensive facility licenses released soon.
Instead, Missouri is releasing an assortment of microbusiness cannabis licenses geared toward smaller businesses and entrepreneurs looking to get their foot in the cannabis door. Similar to other states’ social equity plans, the Missouri micro license plan is designed to provide a path to facility ownership for individuals who might not otherwise easily access that opportunity, such as those with a net worth of less than $250,000 or veterans with a service-connected disability.
What Is A Microbusiness As Defined By Missouri Regulations?
A microbusiness facility refers to either a dispensary or a wholesale facility–both of which conduct operations related to marijuana for medical and adult use and are bound by size and other operating restrictions.
In Missouri, microbusiness dispensary facilities and wholesale facilities can only work with other microbusinesses, not 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.
Dispensary (Retail) Cannabis Licenses
A microbusiness dispensary facility licensee in Missouri may acquire from any other microbusiness facility, process, package, deliver, and sell marijuana and marijuana-infused products to any other marijuana microbusiness facility, or directly to qualified patients, their primary caregiver, or consumers.
Wholesale Cannabis Licenses
A microbusiness wholesale facility in Missouri may cultivate, process, manufacture, transport, and sell marijuana and marijuana-infused products to any other marijuana microbusiness facility. With a microbusiness wholesale facility license, an individual may cultivate up to 250 flowering plants at once.
Who Qualifies To Apply For A Micro Cannabis License In Missouri?
Micro license applicants must meet at least one of these five criteria:
- Has a net worth less than $250,000 and an income below 250% of the federal poverty level;
- Has a valid service-connected disability card issued by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs;
- Is someone who has been, or whose parent or guardian has been arrested, prosecuted or convicted of a non-violent marijuana offense;
- Resides in a ZIP code or census tract 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 an unaccredited school district or lived in a ZIP code with an unaccredited school.
What’s The Microbusiness Licensing Timeline In Missouri?
The department will begin accepting microbusiness facility license applications on or before September 4, 2023 and application forms will be made available no later than June 6, 2023.
How Many Micro Cannabis Licenses Will Be Available?
The department will begin with issuing 48 licenses, divided evenly amongst the 8 congressional districts. Nine months later, another 48 licenses will be awarded and then another 48 licenses will be awarded nine months after that. In total, there will be 144 awarded microbusiness licenses by April 2025. The department can choose to award more microbusiness licenses, but are not required to.
What Are the Fees For A Microbusiness Application In Missouri?
The fee for a microbusiness application is $1,500. Applications will be entered into a lottery and those who are rejected will be refunded their application fee.
How And When To Apply For A Missouri Micro Cannabis License?
While details of the application won’t be released until June, starting early with a trusted consultant will allow you to submit the best application possible. Our team of Missouri cannabis experts are here to help you navigate every step of the way leading up to license approval.
Contact our team to get started today and review our Guide to Missouri Cannabis to stay ahead of critical program changes as they are released.