DHSS publishes annual report for state’s medical and adult use cannabis program

Media Contact:
Lisa Cox
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

JEFFERSON CITY, MO -The Division of Cannabis Regulation within the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has published its first combined annual report of the Missouri Medical and Adult Use Cannabis Program. DHSS is required to annually submit a report to the Governor and General Assembly regarding the efficient discharge of its responsibilities under Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution. Reported activities are based on the program year of Dec. 1, 2022 - Nov. 30, 2023 (PY23).

Following voters' 2018 approval of the state's medical program and the Division of Cannabis Regulation's full implementation thereafter, the Division expanded dramatically in PY23 with the 2022 passage of the amendment which resulted in Article XIV, Section 2 of the Missouri Constitution. This provision meant adult use became legal, and regulation responsibility for this new and larger industry was added to DHSS. The annual report highlights the actions taken to implement the new constitutional provisions and share news of the Missouri Cannabis State Reference Laboratory and the Adult Substance Use Disorder Grant Program.

"We saw significant and unprecedented efforts to ensure compliance, public health and safety, and financial opportunity for veterans, grant programs and Missouri communities during the 2023 program year," said Amy Moore, director of the Division of Cannabis Regulation. "We are grateful for our team who has been responsible for ensuring all Constitutionally required deadlines were once again met, if not exceeded."

Some key impacts of Article XIV, Section 2, on DHSS include the following:

• Article XIV, Section 2 allows individuals aged 21 years and older (adult consumers) to legally purchase, possess and consume cannabis in Missouri. This resulted in a new and significant increase in responsibility for DHSS, which is charged with regulating the production and distribution of cannabis for adult use.
• Although medical facility licensees are not authorized under the law to sell product to non-medical consumers, Section 2 provisions allow existing medical facility licensees the right to convert to a "comprehensive license" to sell cannabis products to both patients and adult consumers.
• The new law also required DHSS to create a lottery process to grant new small business licenses called "microbusinesses," designed to provide a path to facility ownership for individuals who might not otherwise easily access that opportunity.

In the current and upcoming program year, the Division is continuing to implement the adult use program, increase public awareness and program transparency through multiple new communication products and begin to operationalize and accredit Missouri's Cannabis State Reference Laboratory. Updated information along with the annual report can be viewed at cannabis.mo.gov.