Missouri is Now Accepting Medical Marijuana Applications

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services began accepting applications for medical patients, caregivers, and physicians on June 28, 2019. This is the first step in the implementation of Missouri’s medical marijuana program. The state will accept applications for medical marijuana establishments from August 3, 2019, to August 17, 2019.

In January 2019, the DHHS accepted pre-filing application fees for Medical Marijuana Cultivation, Dispensary, or Infused Products Manufacturing Facilities. The state received 534 applications and collected $3.9 million in fees as of June 20, 2019. Of the 534 applications, 301 applicants are seeking a dispensary license, 157 applicants are seeking a cultivation license, and 85 applicants are seeking a manufacturing license. The DHHS published a map indicating the permitted locations within the state for each license type.

The local municipalities in the state are busy adopting medical marijuana ordinances. Unlike other states, Missouri requires municipalities to permit a medical marijuana dispensary to operate in a city upon the request of an interested party. The local ordinances provide business-friendly requirements at fees lower than those in other states.

The state also released an eleven (11) page facility license applications and scoring criteria document in late May. The evaluation criteria place an emphasis on the need for medical marijuana facilities to execute a business plan that protects medical marijuana patients, ensures an adequate supply of medical marijuana, and provides a plan for making medical marijuana available to qualifying low-income patients. Businesses seeking a license in Missouri should review the scoring methodology and structure the application accordingly.