Marijuana microbusiness licenses will be available earlier than planned
The Department of Health and Senior Services announced Tuesday that it will begin accepting applications early for the state's marijuana microbusiness program.
The application window for the first round of applications is July 27 through April 10. Application forms and instructions will be available ahead of time, by June 6, on the department's website.
Amendment 3, which legalized recreational marijuana, was added to the Missouri Constitution in December 2022. Under the amendment, the DHSS is required to begin accepting microbusiness applications by September.
"This is the first implementation of a new applicant type, and it is an application type for which we are instructed to provide technical assistance and other resources to ensure eligible applicants are successful in navigating the process," Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation Director Amy Moore said. "We want to do everything in our power to ensure we are fulfilling that responsibility, and allowing for more time in the application processing time period is one way to do that."
In October, the DHSS will issue a total of 48 microbusiness licenses via random lottery drawing — six in each of the state's eight congressional districts. The Missouri Lottery will conduct the drawing using software that produces random results.
There are two types of microbusiness licenses: dispensary licenses and wholesale licenses. A microbusiness dispensary facility license allows an entity to dispense marijuana products for both medical and recreational use. A microbusiness wholesale facility license allows an entity to cultivate and/or manufacture marijuana products for medical and recreational use. Out of the initial six licenses to be allocated in each congressional district, two will be dispensaries and four will be wholesale facilities.
Nine months after the first 48 licenses are distributed, another round of 48 will be awarded. Then, in another nine months, a third round of 48 licenses will be. By April 2025, 144 microbusiness licenses will have been awarded.
Who is eligible for a microbusiness license?
A microbusiness license applicant must meet at least one of the following 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.
How much does it cost to apply for a microbusiness license?
Under Amendment 3, a microbusiness license application is $1,500 per entity. An individual is only allowed to apply for one microbusiness license at a time. If an entity is not selected by the Missouri Lottery system, this fee will be refunded by Nov. 5.
