6 December 2021
From The Editor
Bill Cromwell , Publisher , Editor-in-Chief Happy Holidays from Bill and Victoria
Christmas May Come Early for Patients & Dispensaries !
Back in July , the DHSS told dispensaries it was aware of numerous promotional events and that facilities had to “ immediately ” stop any activity regarding the disbursement of medical marijuana as part of a promotional event . The DHSS viewed promotional events as any activity , advertisement , or publicity designed to increase interest in purchasing medical marijuana or a particular product or brand of medical marijuana .
The DHSS notice ( regulation ) went on to say , in part , “ Facilities are not allowed to advertise price discounts on a particular product .” It also said that advertising holiday discounts were also prohibited . However , the state said discounts were still allowed , but they couldn ’ t be advertised .
“ Reducing prices without noting or advertising the reduction would not be disbursing medical marijuana as part of a promotional event ,” the letter said , “ and neither would establishing discounted pricing for classes of patients such as those designated as low-income on their medical marijuana identification card .”
Basically , the state was okay with issuing an approved patient I . D . Card to purchase medical marijuana , but it was not okay with letting those same patients ( or potential new patients ) learn of discounts or promotions unless they entered a dispensary and asked about such offers . The regulation also severely handcuffed retailers to operate or market in a competitive marketplace by disallowing the advertising of any promotional offers .
This magazine ran a campaign in its September and October issues sponsored by concerned license-holding industry leaders , asking the DHSS to revise the aforementioned regulations . Thousands of concerned patients ( readers ) mailed the campaign ’ s postcard to the DHSS pleading to retract and revise the adverse regulation .
News Update : On 11-4-21 , DHSS announced new proposed draft facilities rules that included several topics and revisions to the former promotions and advertising rules . Feedback on these newly proposed rules was accepted until November 18 ( after our press deadline for this issue ). Ultimately , all indications are that the rules / regulations will be revised within the next 30-days of its announcement date as follows : Dispensary facilities shall not advertise discounts on medical marijuana or promote particular medical marijuana products or brands outside the physical licensed premises unless that advertisement or promotion includes the following statement : “ Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising . Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular medical marijuana products .”
To all our readers and industry leaders , we thank you for continuing support to advocate on behalf of Missouri MMJ patients . Your voice is critical to the positive changes like those addressed here , which simply would not happen without your active efforts , mailing postcards , and participation .
Happy Holidays to all patients and MMJ industry leaders !
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 : Bill Cromwell PHOTOGRAPHY : Chris Smith and Clayton Stallings
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● Karla Deel — Cannabis Culture and History
● Dana Howard — Cooking with CBD and THC
● Dolores Halbin , RN — Patient Advocate and Awareness
● April Hatch , RN ― Patient Education 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
● Andrew Park — Cannabiz News
● Dr . Michael J . Poppa , D . O ., M . B . A . ― Medical Health News
● Monthly Guest Writers — Cannabis News & Patient Advocates
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