Missouri will accept applications for 77 microbusiness marijuana licenses from July 13–27, with a lottery drawing on September 9 and licenses expected in December, the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation announced Monday.
The program, established by a 2022 constitutional amendment legalizing recreational marijuana, targets marginalized or underrepresented individuals across seven eligibility categories, including low income, residence in an impoverished area, and past marijuana-related arrests or incarcerations. Applicants pay a $1,500 fee, refundable if not selected. The Missouri Lottery will choose 77 winners to open dispensaries or cultivation facilities, filling remaining slots toward the constitutionally mandated minimum of 144 microbusiness licenses.
Lesley Turek, the division's chief equity officer, has been touring Missouri this month to explain the application process and new rules effective in late May. Those rules—proposed in 2024 after regulators revoked numerous licenses over unconstitutional ownership arrangements—require an extensive pre-issuance review, mandate direct communication between regulators and majority owners, and require applicants to complete a compliance course before applying and after receiving a license.
The rules also clarify that the constitutional requirement to "majority own and operate" means holding more than 50 percent of ownership and more than 50 percent of decision-making authority. Under the new rules, the designated contact must be the applicant or an eligible majority owner. Regulators made that change after finding that many designated contacts had kept eligible applicants uninformed about business dealings, locking them into agreements that limited voting power and profits. A mandatory three-video pre-application course covers potential predatory practices.
Turek described the application as accessible: "We have lots of tutorials, and we have a step-by-step guide that we provide as well. Anybody could sit down and do the application. I don't think it's challenging." She cautioned that operating a licensed marijuana facility is expensive and heavily regulated, and she wants applicants to understand the commitment before deciding whether to apply.
Outreach events include an in-person forum in Kansas City on June 22 (6–8 p.m.) and webinars on June 24 (11 a.m.–1 p.m.) and June 29 (6–8 p.m.); registration is required at Microbusiness Education. Program details are at cannabis.mo.gov. Those needing help with eligibility or forms can contact Facility Application Services at [email protected].