Missouri has received nearly 900 applications for its final round of marijuana microbusiness licenses, with 77 applicants set to be selected through a state lottery next month.
The Missouri Lottery is scheduled to conduct the drawing on September 9, with licenses expected to be issued in December. The application period closed July 28, and the Division of Cannabis Regulation is now verifying that submissions meet the minimum requirements to participate in the drawing.
The 77 licenses will include microbusiness dispensaries and wholesale facilities distributed across Missouri’s eight congressional districts.
Missouri created the microbusiness program as part of the constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2022 to legalize recreational marijuana. The program is intended to provide ownership opportunities to people who may otherwise face barriers to entering the regulated marijuana industry, including low-income individuals, disabled veterans and people affected by previous marijuana prohibition.
This year’s lottery is being conducted under tighter rules following problems during the first two rounds that resulted in dozens of licenses being revoked.
Regulators found that some arrangements involving outside investors diminished the control of individuals who qualified for licenses under the program’s eligibility requirements. Under the updated rules, applicants cannot enter agreements that remove the power or reduce the operational control of eligible majority owners until regulators have completed their eligibility review and required post-award training has been completed.
Applicants are also required to complete compliance training, while regulators have increased direct communication with the individuals who are supposed to control the businesses.
The Missouri Constitution requires the state to ultimately issue at least 144 microbusiness licenses. The September lottery is expected to complete that requirement while also filling vacancies created by licenses that were previously revoked or surrendered.
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