The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Office of Business Opportunity has released the results of the eligibility review for cannabis microbusiness licensees, a key step in the state’s initiative to involve marginalized or under-represented individuals in the legal marijuana market. This follows the passage of Amendment 3 in November 2022, which led to the introduction of microbusiness licenses for small businesses in this sector.
On October 2, 2023, the DHSS issued a total of 48 licenses, comprising 32 wholesale and 16 dispensary facilities. These licenses were designed to bolster participation in the marijuana market, especially among those previously under-represented.
Abigail Vivas, Chief Equity Officer, and her team conducted the eligibility review within the required 60 days of the license issuance. Completed on December 1, the review’s results are now available online. The report details the eligibility criteria cited by applicants and delineates between the licenses that were certified and those that were not. of the 48 awarded licenses 11 were not certified, 2 wholesale licenses and 9 dispensary licenses. Licenses not certified as eligible face potential revocation. In such cases, the licensees are given a 30-day period to provide evidence supporting their eligibility. If revoked, these licenses