Wow , four years have passed quickly since we first launched this magazine , and now , as we enter our fifth year , Missouri ’ s growth of its cannabis industry is impressive yet ever-changing .
On April 26 , 2019 , the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services ( DHSS ) announced the number of medical marijuana facilities that would be licensed in Missouri — 192 dispensaries , 60 cultivation facilities , and 86 medical marijuana-infused manufacturing facilities . As of December 5 , 2023 , we have 202 dispensaries , 54 cultivation facilities , and 78 medical marijuana-infused manufacturing facilities . While the number of dispensaries grew by a few , the number of cultivation and manufacturing facilities are a few less . However , some of those licenses were combined / changed to allow for more square footage of manufacturing space or to increase the number of plants grown .
We ’ ve come a long way since October 2020 , when the first dispensary opened its doors , and 2024 will welcome even more growth , plants included . The wide variety of available products today compared to October 2020 is simply amazing ! Hats off to all the cultivation and manufacturing facilities that have enabled dispensaries to fill the shelves with a wide variety of products for consumers . On December 5 , the state reported MJ cumulative sales at $ 1.7 Billion ( Oct . 2020 through Oct . 2023 ) and cannabis sales for October 2023 at $ 113.1 million . Perhaps our successful Missouri industry entrepreneurs could give those bickering Washington DC politicians a few lessons on accomplishing the tasks at hand .
Government parties are so busy bickering about petty issues instead of serving “ The People .” It is so bad that they can ’ t even agree on an annual budget . Something even the smallest business accomplishes yearly with ease . Whose fault is that ? It ’ s ours ! We keep voting for the same old out-of-touch lazy people to represent us . As a result , we have a good old boys club whose members have become incompetent . Instead of making good decisions benefiting “ The People ” they serve , they work for the greater good of their own agendas . Approving the Fair Banking Act and removing marijuana from the Class 1 narcotics list entirely would seem like an easy thing to do ; after all , currently , 38 of 50 states have elected to ignore Federal Law and operate flourishing cannabis industries . Nine more states are positioned to launch legalization this year . In all , 47 states will or have legalization , yet Washington DC chooses to ignore “ The People ” they serve .
Even more insane , the Feds do recognize cannabis industry businesses for taxation liabilities at the highest bracket . Get this : marijuana is federally illegal , but remember , the nearly two billion dollars Missouri businesses have earned thus far is all still taxable income . Best of all , companies operating federally illegal businesses cannot take “ ANY ” of the business-related deductions that any other business or corporation can take . As a result , marijuana businesses are taxed at the highest tax bracket without standard business deductions . Wait , did you just hear the IRS welcomes tax payments of federally illegal money that cannot be deposited in federally insured banks ? Yep , you did . Confused yet ? Me too !
There is a simple solution , and it likely would have been done years ago if politicians would listen to “ The People ” who voted for them in those 47 states that choose to allow legal marijuana sales — pass the Fair Banking Act and remove marijuana from the Class 1 list . Why is that so stinking hard to accomplish ? Because we keep voting for the same old politicians who are deep in the pockets of pharmaceutical companies ’ lobbyists and have opposed ( or ignored ) these issues for the past twenty years or more ! Will that change in 2024 ? We need to decide that by choosing carefully at the polls .
Happy New Year ! Make it your best !
6 January 2024
Bill Cromwell , Publisher , Editor-in-Chief
From TheEditor Celebrating a New Year
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 .”
PUBLISHER , EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : Bill Cromwell News , Articles , Advertisement , & All Requests Should Email to : Bill . C @ TheEvolutionMag . com Corporate Office ( New 2023 ) 816.886.9017 Kansas City , MO Mail to : P . O . Box 485 , Grain Valley , MO 64029
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
● Kassie Ferrero ― Dispensary Product Reviews and News
● Dana Cunningham — Cooking with CBD and THC
● Dolores Halbin , RN — Patient Advocate and Awareness
● Peter Kershaw — Health and Safety Columnist
● Leah Maurer — Health , Awareness , Ask Leah Columnist
● Dr . Poppa , D . O ., M . B . A . ― Medical Health News
● Jay Richardson ― Patient Features
● Rocco Scarcello ― Educational
● Todd Scattini ― Veterans News
● Monthly Guest Writers — Cannabis News & Feature Stories
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