Deadline looms for Missouri cannabis microbusiness license applications

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Monday marks the deadline for the Missouri Department of Cannabis Regulation’s second round of microbusiness applications. 

According to Cannabis.Mo.Gov, applicants for a microbusiness license need to meet one of the following criteria:

• Have a net worth of fewer than $250,000 and have had an income below 250% of the federal poverty level, or successor level, for at least three of the 10 calendar years prior to applying for a marijuana microbusiness facility license; or
• Have a valid service-connected disability card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or successor agency; or
• Be a person who has been or a person whose parent, guardian or spouse has been arrested for, prosecuted for, or convicted of a non-violent marijuana offense, except for a conviction involving provision of marijuana to a minor, or a conviction of driving under the influence of marijuana. The arrest, charge, or conviction must have occurred at least one year prior to the effective date of this section; or
• Reside in a ZIP code or census tract area where:
  • Thirty percent or more of the population lives below the federal poverty level; or
  • The rate of unemployment is 50% higher than the state average rate of unemployment; or
  • The historic rate of incarceration for marijuana-related offenses is 50% higher than the rate for the entire state; or
• Graduated from a school district that was unaccredited, or had a similar successor designation, at the time of graduation, or has lived in a zip code containing an unaccredited school district, or similar successor designation, for three of the past five years.

The first round of applications had some issues, including several instances of predatory practice and nine licenses having to be revoked due to ineligibility. Those nine licenses were added to the second round of eligibility. 

Despite some of the early hiccups, Director of Patient and Application Services for the DCR Erica Ziegler said earlier this month that the first round of applications was a success. 

“We successfully issued licenses. You know we followed our processes, we have revocations,” Ziegler said on April 15. “From a division perspective and department perspective we were successful and did meet our constitutional obligations and licensing microbusiness applications.” 

 The Department of Cannabis Regulation received more than 1,600 applications during the July 27- Aug. 10 application period. There were 144 selected in a lottery system. Each Missouri congressional district was awarded eight licenses: Two for dispensary licenses and four for wholesale facilities.