Recreational marijuana sales begin at Columbia dispensaries

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ.)

Beginning Tuesday, marijuana dispensaries in Columbia will be allowed to start selling weed for recreational use.

This move comes after the Columbia City Council voted in favor of regulating business licenses for recreational marijuana at its council meeting Monday evening.

It comes just a few days after the state started approving those licenses as well.

Columbia City Spokesperson Sydney Olsen said in an email Monday night, the finance department had completed everything it needed to have done so that it can issue licenses before dispensaries open Tuesday morning.

Following the approval of Amendment three back in November, dispensaries looking to make a license transition could begin applying for a recreational license as early as December of 2022. Nearly 90% of dispensaries in Missouri did just that according to Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services.

DHSS was given 60 days to review and approve requests.

Olsen tells ABC 17 News as of Friday afternoon, the city had received pre-application materials from all six dispensaries in Columbia.  Once approved, Missourians who are at least 21-years-old will be able to purchase recreational marijuana in Columbia. 

Amendment three also allows Missourians to carry up to three ounces of weed and expunges certain non-violent marijuana charges.