It seems there’s plenty of interest in getting in at the ground floor of Missouri’s soon to be established medical cannabis sector.
According to a recent update from the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services, hundreds of pre-filed application forms and fees have already been received.
As at July 2, the numbers:
- Cultivation Facilities: 160
- Dispensary Facilities: 308
- Medical Marijuana-infused Manufacturing Facilities: 86
DHSS has created a map showing where the applications apply.
“Although these numbers are not at all final, we hope this information will give potential applicants, as well as cities and counties, some perspective on the field of applicants in their respective areas,” said Lyndall Fraker, director of DHSS Section for Medical Marijuana Regulation last month.
The DHSS says it will begin formally accepting facility applications on August 3. The department anticipates medical marijuana may be available for purchase at licensed dispensaries sometime after January 2020. Only patients with Missouri-issued cards will be able to purchase products – out-of-staters will be out of luck.
As we previously reported, while some forecasts for the state indicate Missouri’s medical cannabis program will go gangbusters, there are concerns it could become a crowded and very competitive sector. State law requires 192 dispensaries, 60 cultivation sites and 85 infused product manufacturer licenses be issued by 2022. However, an analysis indicates the patient count will reach just 26,000 in 2022 – although that prediction is made at just a 66% confidence level.
Qualifying patients and caregivers have been able to electronically submit applications through the Department’s secure online registry since late June, but figures haven’t been released so far.
The program should be quite popular is there is a broad qualifying conditions list. Patients will also be able to cultivate their own cannabis if they hold patient cultivation identification card, which costs an additional $100 fee. This permits the cardholder to have up to six flowering plants. As to where seeds and seedlings can be purchased, the DHSS says it “cannot advise anyone on where to obtain the means to grow marijuana”.
Standard program registration costs $25 for patients and also caregivers. Dispensaries will be required to charge four percent of the retail price in tax for medical cannabis.
Further information on the program can be found here.
