Missouri has had a rocky road to cannabis reform and medical cannabis expansion so far, but now, the state is poised for success with their own, commercial cannabis grow facility now fully up and operational. 

But some business owners tell 41 Action News they were caught off guard by an additional hurdle imposed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, which oversees the industry, before growers can put seeds in the ground.

After each of the 338 medical marijuana license holders is verified by the state, they have to go through an additional verification process.

Despite all that's gone on in 2020, it's important not to lose sight of the fact that we're now less than five months away from Election Day. We'll see voters choose who'll be president of the United States for the next four years, and could even witness the current political makeup of Congress shift.

But one of the more interesting stories for 2020 is going to be which states "go green."

For more than 80 years, hemp hasn’t been allowed to be grown in the state of Missouri. That all changed in 2018 after President Donald Trump signed a bill legalizing industrial hemp.

Many Missourians are taking advantage of that opportunity this year with their first hemp harvest despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Hemp Hill in Lexington Missouri has been doing everything they can to get their hemp in the ground.

The group was part of a small pilot program last fall that allowed universities to team up with producers to research how to successfully grow hemp in Missouri.

“We were the first successful harvest in over 80 years in this specific area”, said Hemp Hill COO Victor Santos.

For more than 80 years, hemp hasn’t been allowed to be grown in the state of Missouri. That all changed in 2018 after President Donald Trump signed a bill legalizing industrial hemp.

Many Missourians are taking advantage of that opportunity this year with their first hemp harvest despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Hemp Hill in Lexington Missouri has been doing everything they can to get their hemp in the ground.

The group was part of a small pilot program last fall that allowed universities to team up with producers to research how to successfully grow hemp in Missouri.

“We were the first successful harvest in over 80 years in this specific area”, said Hemp Hill COO Victor Santos.

Medical marijuana dispensaries may open soon in Missouri, even despite setbacks posed to state government due to COVID-19.

Medical marijuana has technically been legal for Missouri cardholders since January 1, but administrative drawbacks make it less feasible for retailers to sell cannabis at present.

The state is requiring that cannabis plants in Missouri be grown from seeds, beginning on or after the January 1, 2020 cutoff.

Dr Randall Williams reported late last month that, although the issue was toward the bottom of his department’s list of concerns, the state is aiming to allow medical pot shops to open in “late July or early August.”

Missouri hasn't yet thrown open its medical marijuana market, but it's already placing limits on the trade. On Thursday its House of Representatives passed a bill barring the sale of certain edible marijuana products, among other restrictions. It now goes to Governor Mike Parson to be signed into law, a process that is usually a formality.

The lawmakers' fear is that certain forms of edibles might be attractive to children, so the law bars any such product molded into "the shape of a human, animal, or fruit, including realistic, artistic, caricature, or cartoon renderings."

State lawmakers are pushing forward with a plan to dramatically increase the number of licenses to grow, process and sell medical marijuana in Missouri, months before dispensaries around the state are expected to open their doors.

A legislative probe into the roll out of Missouri’s medical marijuana program has expanded into Gov. Mike Parson’s office.