Cannabis
Banks remain wary of marijuana industry, even after Missouri legalization vote
Jason Nelson just wants to get as close to “fairly normalized business banking” as possible. But as the owner of Swade dispensaries and Sinse Cannabis cultivation, that’s much harder than it sounds. He’s a customer at Triad Bank in St. Louis, one of the few banks in Missouri willing to work with cannabis businesses. His […]
Missouri banks ask lawmakers to approve sharing of marijuana business inspections
Missouri’s marijuana businesses have extra obstacles when it comes to getting help from financial institutions. With recreational marijuana now legal in Missouri but still illegal at the federal level, it creates more hoops to jump through for both banks and businesses to meet federal scrutiny. Missouri lawmakers have an opportunity to streamline that process by […]
Courts hopeful Missouri lawmakers can provide funds to help with marijuana expungements
After three months of looking through old marijuana charges, Boone County Circuit Court Clerk Christy Blakemore — along with clerks and judges around the state — has come to a realization. There’s no quick way to wipe those records clean. And, it’s going to take a lot more money for overtime to go through the […]
Open-container law for marijuana gets hearing in Missouri House
A Missouri House committee discussed a bill Thursday meant to mirror Illinois’ open-container law for having marijuana in vehicles. The bill from Rep. Kent Haden, R-Mexico, would require all marijuana products in vehicles to be kept in odor-proof and child-proof containers. “I don’t claim to be an expert on marijuana – I’ve never inhaled,” Haden […]
Missouri appeals court orders state to issue medical marijuana growing license
Missouri must issue a medical marijuana cultivation license to an applicant who was not informed that a key piece of paperwork was missing from its submission, the Eastern District Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday. Mo Cann Do Inc., which sought a license for a growing facility in Cuba, is one of the rare instances where […]
Missouri regulators say they’re close to naming marijuana chief equity officer
The constitutional amendment legalizing recreational marijuana in Missouri won voter approval in November but created a schism among social-justice activists over the question of racial and economic equity. Some believe the new law will empower minority marijuana business owners, while others worry it will cement an already distrusted, inequitable business licensing system in place. Much […]
Experts worry expungements under Missouri marijuana law could be procedural ‘nightmare’
Thursday will be a big day for Missouri. It’s the day the constitutional amendment legalizing recreational marijuana use goes into effect, allowing Missourians 21 or older to legally buy or possess up to three ounces of marijuana and grow up to six marijuana plants. It’s also the day Missouri’s Department of Corrections says 565 people […]
Marijuana vote divided Missouri social-justice leaders. Can an equity officer be a bridge?
Longtime cannabis activist Brennan England has gotten lots of undeserved praise since Missourians approved a constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana on Nov. 8. As the owner of a private cannabis consumption lounge in St. Louis, England understood why people thought he’d have a “go weed or go home” stance. But it wasn’t that simple for […]
Missouri voters amend state constitution to legalize recreational marijuana
Missourians voted Tuesday to become the 21st state to legalize recreational marijuana, approving a constitutional amendment that also establishes a process to clear nonviolent marijuana-related charges from Missourians’ criminal records. Though down from the 66% of voters who approved medical cannabis in 2018, the recreational marijuana amendment on Tuesday received 53% of the vote. “Today’s […]