The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has released its 2024 Annual Report for the state’s medical and adult-use marijuana program, highlighting continued growth in sales, licensing, enforcement, and public health initiatives.
Covering the program year from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024, the report outlines efforts by the Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) to balance public health protections with expanding access to marijuana for both patients and consumers. The report also details revenues, licensing metrics, product safety measures, and the status of the microbusiness program aimed at increasing equitable participation in the industry.
Director Amy Moore, who leads the DCR, said the department’s actions throughout the year “demonstrated our commitment to ensuring the microbusiness program is implemented as the law mandates and as voters intended.” She also noted progress on packaging and labeling compliance, recalls, and outreach initiatives.
Sales and Tax Revenue
Retail marijuana sales in Missouri reached $1.26 billion for adult-use products and $182 million for medical cannabis during the program year, resulting in over $79 million in marijuana tax revenue. Adult-use taxes brought in $72.3 million, while medical sales generated $7.4 million.
Tax revenue from adult-use marijuana was distributed equally among three programs: the Missouri Veterans Commission, a substance use disorder (SUD) grant program administered by DHSS, and the Missouri State Public Defender System. Each received $10.5 million during the reporting period.
Since adult-use sales began, more than $2.2 billion in cannabis products have been sold in Missouri.
Microbusiness Licensing and Equity Efforts
During the second round of Missouri’s microbusiness licensing program, DHSS issued 57 new licenses—25 dispensaries and 32 wholesale operations. The program is specifically designed to create opportunities for individuals impacted by marijuana prohibition and those in disadvantaged communities.
The Chief Equity Officer conducted post-licensure reviews to ensure eligibility requirements were met, with 32 licenses flagged as potentially ineligible and currently facing revocation proceedings.
In preparation for this round, DHSS hosted outreach forums and provided technical assistance through webinars and live events. According to the report, a third round of licensing is planned for 2025–2026.
Public Health and Safety
In 2024, DHSS issued five cannabis product recalls and expanded its testing capabilities by integrating the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory into the cannabis regulatory system. The lab is currently working to become ISO-accredited and will handle contaminant screening and cannabinoid testing.
The state also handled 476 failed product tests and received 151 remediation requests, most commonly for microbial or residual solvent contamination. Additionally, the newly implemented item approval process—designed to vet product packaging and labeling—received hundreds of applications, helping to enforce rules aimed at keeping products unattractive to children.
Licensing and ID Cards
DHSS issued a total of 71 new facility licenses in PY24, including seven dispensaries, one cultivation site, and one manufacturing facility. Agent ID card issuance fell by 40% compared to the prior year, while active patient cardholders increased slightly to 118,892, despite a significant drop in new and renewal applications. This trend reflects the broader shift from medical-only access to the broader adult-use market.
Outreach and Transparency
To improve communication, DCR continued publishing its newsletter, “The Cannabis Connection,” and produced a monthly podcast called “DCR Out Loud.” DHSS also expanded its call center availability and launched a new licensee collaborative to facilitate industry-regulator dialogue on key issues like federal rescheduling and market trends.
Enforcement Actions and Appeals
In 2024, DHSS opened 215 investigations into licensed marijuana facilities, most commonly for security and diversion issues. Eleven licenses and ID cards were revoked, and two licensees were suspended.
The state’s Administrative Hearing Commission received four appeals from individuals denied ID cards, along with four from unsuccessful microbusiness applicants. Meanwhile, just 61 appeals from the original 857 filed by medical license applicants between 2019 and 2020 remain unresolved.
The full report is available at cannabis.mo.gov.
