From
Editor
This month , we celebrate Black History Month , Expungements , and , of course , Valentine ’ s Day , as depicted with our cover art tying everything together on one unique piece of art ( see what ’ s behind the cover art design below ).
Within this issue , Attorney Dan Viets wrote an article updating us on the current status of Missouri Expungement . As of January 2025 , 140,000 of those formerly convicted have been expunged . As Viets wrote ( see page 8 ), “ No one knows exactly how many remain to be expunged …”
Viets continued , “ This expungement process especially benefits Black Missourians . According to two studies done by the American Civil Liberties Union in recent years , the rate of marijuana arrests for Black Missourians per capita has been approximately two-and-one-half times greater than the arrest rate for Whites , adjusted for the difference in population of these groups . This means that the expungement of marijuana offenses should likewise benefit approximately two-and-onehalf times more Black Missouri citizens …” Be sure to read his entire article ; it ’ s quite enlightening , and after a century of federal marijuana prohibition , which has disproportionately affected Black communities , it is applicable news for Black History Month .
Perhaps our newest President , sworn in last month , will finish what former President Biden started — federal legalization and nationwide expungements . Maybe a 420th Executive Order !
We also feature an article about Pheno Hunting , Strains , Test- Sampling , and Cannabinoids ( see page 32 ). This article dives into what it takes for cultivation companies to accomplish a successful pheno hunt and develop new strains for consumers . It also touches on the challenges manufacturers and cultivation companies face with testsampling their products . Additionally , page 28 also discusses Missouri ’ s restrictive test-sampling that ultimately handcuffs companies when it comes to refining the perfect products before distribution and sale . Challenges that Missouri manufacturers and cultivation companies hope the state will address and change during 2025 .
Within this issue , we ’ ve also profiled plenty of new product options to share with your Valentine — or you can treat yourself to a few of the newest goodies .
This month ’ s cover art is created by Ari Fish , marketing manager of C4 Phams . She says , “ The ink fingerprints represents those convicted of non-violent marijuana charges . The green Band-Aid cross represents the medical cannabis symbol and the discourse of expunging ( or healing ) cannabis charges , which is also symbolized by the red tape behind The EVOLUTION Magazine logo . It was also important for me to tie in both Black History Month and Valentine ’ s Day , hence the use of the red
6 February 2025
From
The
Editor
Bill Cromwell , Editor-in-Chief
Back History Month , Expungements , Valentine ’ s Day
Let ’ s Thrive in 2025
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 Share Their Story . We hope you join and enjoy “ The EVOLUTION .” Since 2019
PUBLISHER , EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : Bill Cromwell News , Articles , Advertisement , & Requests Should Email to : Bill . C @ TheEvolutionMag . com Corporate Office 816.886.9017 Kansas City , MO Mail to : P . O . Box 485 , Grain Valley , MO 64029
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