From The Editor
Bill Cromwell , Publisher , Editor-in-Chief
What a Difference Three Years Makes !
Three years ago , this month , prospective Missouri Medical Cannabis industry licensees had already spent months hammering out solid business plans and spent thousands of dollars in the “ hopes ” of securing an MMJ industry business license . The stress of getting it right made many applicants sweat long hours late into the night to meet the August 17 , 2019 , application submission deadline .
The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services ( DHSS ) would then award licenses for 192 dispensaries , 86 infusedmanufacturing licenses , and 60 cultivation licenses , plus more for testing facilities and transportation businesses . More than 2,200 applications at a cost between $ 6,000 to $ 10,000 per application in each category were received by the DHSS for scoring , but not all would be awarded licenses — the state issued only 350 . Each applicant could apply for five ( 5 ) dispensaries , three ( 3 ) manufacturing licenses , and three ( 3 ) cultivation licenses .
Now into our third year since the process of applying , to completing construction , to the DHSS completing commencement inspections , we now have 191 dispensaries , 70 infused-manufacturing , and 49 cultivation businesses approved to operate by the state . Hooray ! And better yet , those businesses currently serve 190,112 ( and growing daily ) Missouri medical cannabis card-holding patients and caregivers .
However , as a patient , you may have noticed the ever-changing dispensary names . Not all originally licensed winners have been successful , with many already selling their business or being acquired by a larger national-type company . It ’ s been tough for us to keep up with the name changes for our dispensary guides on pages 56-59 .
In fact , you ’ ll notice in this issue , we ’ ve again made updates to those pages . Good Day Farms , based in Little Rock , AR , originally operated its Cape Girardeau dispensary ; however , as of July , it owns / operates six more dispensaries . Two former Shango dispensaries and the Ozarx Botanicals in Springfield are now Good Day Farms dispensaries , as well as the Shango in Joplin , Taste Buds in St . Clair , and the Missouri Wild Alchemy in O ’ Fallon . Patients will see new signage at each of those locations .
Much has changed since August 2019 , and there will certainly be more changes to come . Ultimately , patients benefit from the 191 Missouri medical cannabis dispensaries open for business , offering alternative medicines and stocked shelves with an ever-expanding variety of choices .
This month ’ s cover is the first issue featuring real people rather than awesome art . We couldn ’ t pass on the fun photo featuring two wellknown , well-liked RNs , Dolores Halbin and April Hatch , within the MMJ industry and patients alike . They are two of the most diligent when it comes to MO Medical Cannabis Activism .
Here ’ s what our Copyeditor Victoria Cromwell had to say about Dolores and her monthly column .
Dolores ’ knack for making me want to shout “ Yes ” as I read her articles explains how her thought-provoking storytelling abilities evoke the reader ’ s emotions . The trauma that she and her husband suffered set the stage for this extraordinary woman to write from her heart about various subjects not exclusively associated with cannabis and hemp . Sometimes , I find myself unintentionally quoting Dolores , “ With faith , we just breathe .” “… find joy like Buggs Bunny .” So , everyone in the cannabis community , like Dolores says , “ Put on your black sunglasses , folks . We ’ re on a mission from God ” ( see Dolores ’ story on page 52 ).
Missouri ’ s First Educational Medical Cannabis Magazine Published Monthly by Native Kansas City , MO , Advocates , Publishers and Writers . A True Missouri Born Grassroots Effort to Educate and Inform Patients , and to Provide Businesses within The Missouri Cannabis Industry an Economical Forum to Tell Their Story . We hope you join and enjoy “ The Evolution .”
PUBLISHER , EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : Bill Cromwell News , Articles and Advertisement Requests should email to :
Bill . C @ TheEvolutionMag . com Corporate Office : 816.878.4509 Kansas City , MO Mail to : P . O . Box 2196 , Independence , MO 64055
MANAGING EDITOR , VP OF OPERATIONS : Victoria Cromwell DIRECTOR MARKETING and EDITORIAL DEVELOPMENT : Clayton Stallings CREATIVE DESIGNER , GRAPHIC ARTS and EDITORIAL : Bill Cromwell PHOTOGRAPHY : Clayton Stallings , and guests photographers
Our Team of Expert Writers and Cannabis Industry Leaders
● Danielle Buntyon ― Elevated Learning
● Karla Deel — Cannabis Culture and History , Product Profiles
● Kassie Ferrero ― Dispensary Product Reviews and News
● Dana Howard — Cooking with CBD and THC
● Dolores Halbin , RN — Patient Advocate and Awareness
● April Hatch , RN ― Patient Feature Columnist
● Sean Keast ― Product Profiles and Dispensary News
● Peter Kershaw — Health and Safety Columnist
● Leah Maurer — Health , Awareness , Ask Leah Columnist
● Jason Mispagel , — Home Growers Education Columnist
● Dr . Poppa , D . O ., M . B . A . ― Medical Health News
● Alexandria Stith ― Patient Feature Columnist
● Monthly Guest Writers — Cannabis News & Patient Advocates
The EVOLUTION
TM Magazine offers a monthly print magazine that is distributed throughout western Missouri , select St . Louis locations , eastern Kansas and the Lake of the Ozarks region . Free printed copies are found at nearly 360 locations including CBD stores , MMJ Dispensaries , Garden and Grow Supply Stores , doctors offices , restaurants , sports bars , resorts , and many other select locations . In addition , the monthly magazine is offered online in an inter-active E-magazine at
www . TheEvolutionMag . com .
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ADVERTISEMENT NOTICE : Advertisers have the right to terminate promotions or special offers / coupons , change rates or fees without notice . All listed guides , rates , fees and information herein are non-binding reference material only . Always check with listed businesses or advertisers for its latest updates , current prices and / or special offers .
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Have a cooler August , and happy shopping ! 6 August 2022
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