In a significant development for Missouri’s burgeoning cannabis industry, 48 applicants have been selected in the state’s second round of a licensing lottery to receive coveted cannabis microbusiness permits. The lottery awarded 33 microbusiness wholesale licenses and 24 microbusiness retail permits.
Notably, residency in Missouri was not a requirement for applicants, although majority owners of marijuana businesses in the state must meet specific eligibility criteria. These include having a disability related to military service, a prior conviction for a nonviolent marijuana offense, or residing in a qualifying ZIP code.
The application period for the second round, which closed on April 29, saw robust participation with a total of 2,083 applications received – 734 for wholesale licenses and 1,349 for retail permits. Applicants who were not selected in this round have the option to reapply in subsequent lotteries or request a refund of their application fee.
According to details released by the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS), a total of 144 microbusiness licenses will be issued through three random lotteries conducted over an 18-month period. The agency has confirmed plans for a third-round lottery next year to award an additional 48 microbusiness licenses.
Missouri’s cannabis market has experienced significant growth since launching its adult-use market in February 2023, surpassing $1.3 billion in sales last year. However, the industry faced challenges, including a widespread recall of over 60,000 marijuana products that disrupted operations statewide for several months.
The expansion of microbusiness licenses represents a crucial step in diversifying and expanding Missouri’s cannabis sector, offering new opportunities for entrepreneurs and contributing to the state’s economic growth.
