From
Editor
As The EVOLUTION Magazine celebrates its sixth anniversary with this issue, we reflect on the past five years of many changes within Missouri’ s newest industry. Some are great, some are questionable, but change is inevitable for every new industry.
For over a year before selling a single bud, this magazine brought monthly news of industry developments leading up to the first dispensary opening. N’ Bliss Cannabis was the very first to dispense the historic first Missouri Medical Marijuana sale on October 17, 2020, to a recovering cancer survivor accompanied by his wife( a nurse), and we were there to cover their story.
Fresh Green KC Dispensary was next to open on the state’ s western side in Lee’ s Summit. Its historic first Missouri Medical Marijuana sale to a medical card patient occurred on October 19, 2020. Sadly, since that time, both N’ Bliss and Fresh Green, like many of the original dispensaries, have sold to other companies. However, that’ s a story for another issue. Nevertheless, much has changed since the original legalization when the state allowed Medical Marijuana sales only from 2020 through early 2023.
It was February 3, 2023, when the doors( flood gates) opened for dispensing the first adult-use sale. While adult-use sales remain great for consumers and licensed cannabis businesses, the focus on medical patients, which started the legal industry to begin with, has become neglected. Patients are becoming increasingly frustrated, feeling the industry has deprioritized them in lieu of sales and products focused on adult-use consumers, while neglecting patient service. Patient concerns are not just a Missouri issue, but a nationwide issue for states that began as medical and later legalized adult use.
Kenneth Epstein is the co-founder and chief commercial officer of Cannformatics, headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Cannformatics is a biotechnology start-up developing and applying Cannabis-Responsive™ biomarker technology to guide health care providers and patients to evidence-based personalized medical cannabis treatment.
Epstein wrote an April op-ed for Cannabis Business Times, titled“ The Cannabis Industry is Failing Medical Patients— And Leaving Billions on the Table.” 1
Epstein wrote,“ Before licensed dispensaries, venture capital, and mass-market branding, there were patients. The legal cannabis industry exists today because of them. It was patients— people living with AIDS, cancer, autism, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and other debilitating conditions— who fought for legalization. Their advocacy, their stories, and their medical needs convinced policymakers to take cannabis seriously. Yet, today, those patients have been left behind.”
Epstein continued,“ Meanwhile, the cannabis market is struggling. Flower prices have collapsed, profit margins are shrinking, and brands are failing to differentiate themselves. Yet millions of patients, people suffering from over 80 medical conditions linked to the endocannabinoid system, are still searching for products designed for them.
“ How can a patient, following a doctor’ s advice to‘ start low and go slow,’ find a low-dose, full-spectrum THC product when dispensary shelves are stocked with items starting at 5 milligrams THC, with few options beyond a basic 1:1 THC-to-CBD ratio?
It’ s time for the cannabis industry to return to its roots. The future of sustainable growth isn’ t just in chasing recreational consumers— it’ s in finally delivering what medical patients have needed all along. And for brands willing to step into this space, the opportunity is massive.” Continued on page 34 ►
6 June 2025
From
The
Editor
Bill Cromwell, Editor-in-Chief Back to Medical
MAGAZINE
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
MANAGING EDITOR, VP OF OPERATIONS: Victoria Cromwell Subscription inquiries / updates to: Victoria. c @ theevolutionmag. com DIRECTOR MARKETING and EDITORIAL DEVELOPMENT: Clayton Stallings CREATIVE DESIGNER, GRAPHIC ARTS and EDITORIAL: Bill Cromwell
PHOTOGRAPHY by: Clayton Stallings, Chris Smith, and Guests photographers
Our Team of Dedicated Cannabis Industry Writers
● Gerry Donovan— Home Growers Corner
● Dolores Halbin, RN— Patient Advocate and Awareness
● Peter Kershaw— Health and Wellness Columnist
● Tim Lawrence ― Product Profiles of The Month
● Leah Maurer— Cannabis Knowledge, Ask Leah Columnist
● Clayton Stallings— Monthly Feature Stories
● Tara Wolf— Wellness Education
● Monthly Guest Writers— Cannabis News & Feature Stories
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.
NOTICE: The publisher / editor reserves the right to reject whatever Advertising or material that does not fit with the vision or intent of this publication. Advertising is accepted at the discretion of the publisher and do not imply endorsement, nor are we responsible for the products or services advertised. The contributing writers, staff or owners of THE EVOLUTION Magazine LLC cannot be held liable for hardship or losses incurred due to any content associated within this publication or websites. Written views, advertisements and information expressed in this publication belong to the writers or advertisers and do not reflect the sentiments or editorial opinion of the publisher or staff. We cannot be held responsible for; views, opinions, changes to scheduling, prices, rates or the occasional typographical errors.
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.
FDA Disclaimer: Any statements / claims made within this magazine have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. No articles, products or Ads featured within these pages are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent any disease, ailment or disorder. Medical decisions should not be made based on advertisements within these pages. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular medical marijuana products. Products mentioned within are only for use by adults age 21 and older. Keep such products out of reach of children. The information within is a sharing of knowledge and information based on the writers research, opinions and / or educated experience only.
© 2019 – 2025 The EVOLUTION TM Magazine. All Rights Proprietary and Conceptual Designs Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this publication’ s contents is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Publisher or Managing Editor.
TM