MoCannTrade: Early trickle turns to massive flood of last-minute Missouri MMJ license application submissions

Far exceeding industry expectations, DHSS reports more than 2,100 applications submitted by prospective medical cannabis business owners

Missouri’s leading medical cannabis industry group is hailing the news that the state has received over 2,100 applications from prospective medical cannabis business owners — more than half of which were submitted in the final three days before Monday’s deadline.

 “The sky-high interest among Missouri cannabis entrepreneurs did come as a bit of a surprise,” said Andrew Mullins, executive director of the Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association (MoCannTrade). “Our members have spent months creating business plans, lining up investors, purchasing real estate and working diligently to comply with the state’s rightfully rigorous application process.

 “After reviewing the initial numbers, including pre-filed applications, we anticipated between 600 and 1,000 total application submissions,” Mullins continued. “The results far exceed our expectations and show how competitive the process is in Missouri for winning an MMJ business license.”

 The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) also reports receiving nearly 7,200 medical cannabis patient applications, with more than 6,500 approved to date.

 “The 2018 constitutional amendment overwhelmingly endorsed by Missouri voters showed the intense interest for access to safe, legal medicine that’s already available in much of the country,” Mullins added.

 “The patient count will only continue to rise as the state’s program matures, licenses are awarded later this year and retail dispensaries begin to open in early 2020.”

 The Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association (MoCannTrade) is an association of business owners, health care providers, professionals, patients and residents responsible for helping to implement a successful, safe, compliant medical marijuana program in Missouri.

 The membership-based association is directed by a board of diverse professionals experienced in medical marijuana, healthcare, law, pharmaceutical, science, agriculture, law enforcement, security, commercial real estate, finance, public affairs and regulatory sectors.

 To learn more about MoCannTrade and implementation of the new law, please visit www.mocanntrade.org.