I was living on a family-owned property, so I didn’ t qualify, and I let him know. He did not pick up on how deeply offended I was by his offer. I took my plate and moved to another table.
None of us knew exactly how cannabis in our state was going to unfold. Missouri is unique in the petition process. Not many states have this power. And we are the Show Me State, showing our resiliency, our adaptability, our stubborn grit inherited from grandparents and great-grandparents who came here to work the mines, then the land. We watched other states, how the MSOs had moved in and taken over mom-and-pop shops, and we built in protections for ourselves.
Victory Dance
Finally, in 2023, we achieved the monumental change, legalizing the plant, expunging all our records( allowing me to be an RN again), and securing an equitable solution for micro licenses, ensuring those who put so much skin in the game get to play. In Missouri, we look out for our little guys! and creating something meaningful that supports people and the community. This is not just a business opportunity, but validation. A shift. A chance to build something the right way in the open, with integrity.
“ The micro program was intentionally designed to be smaller, community-rooted, and mission-driven. The Missouri Microbusiness Association has become an important member of our Missouri cannabis community. We are grateful to be part of a growing support network that understands this responsibility. Organizations such as MoCannTrade have helped us navigate an incredibly complex process.
“ For the micro program to truly succeed, unity is imperative. This industry is still young. We have the opportunity right now to choose collaboration over division, mentorship over gate-keeping, and longterm sustainability over short-term profits. Missouri’ s micro community is not just growing plants— it is growing opportunity, accountability, and restoration. That is worth protecting!”
My journey has been unique, so I fit right in here. We are unique, with the right to petition for change, and a population that just keeps saying,“ Show me and watch me.” No other state has seen such a strong cannabis community knit itself together.
What cost me the most has also given me the most. The adventures I have been on, the people along the way, and this cannabis community we have formed here in Missouri are special. We have each other’ s backs, and ya’ ll have certainly had mine.
For Katie and Jim Thomas, cannabis has never just been about business. It’ s about wellness, healing, and the community.
“ I remember sitting at the kitchen table with Jim after we received the notice we were selected as a Round One micro license winner,” Katie Thomas explained, while sitting at the same kitchen table.“ There was a moment of silence before celebration, because we understood what it represented. For Jim and me, cannabis has never just been about business. It’ s about wellness, healing,
Well said, Katie Thomas! The Thomases are currently working to finalize their microbusiness licensing as they await various state approvals and commencement. We’ ll keep you posted on their progress.
Meanwhile, Blue Key CBD sells a Full Spectrum CBD Oil Tincture( THC content: 0.03 % per 30ml bottle), which provides amazing pain relief, I can say from first-hand experience. It’ s available at several dispensaries, including Kansas City Cannabis Dispensaries and Missouri Wild Alchemy.
We aren’ t just the Show Me State, we are also the Watch Me Grow State.
Living the legalization dream— Oh, Yeah!
Thanks to everyone in Rosebud for making this past year a great adventure. Now, Butch White Paws, my two kitties, and I are off to the next one. Wherever it leads us in this amazing state of Missouri, I bask in the comfort of a community I trust and care deeply for. Take care of yourselves and each other, please! And thank you for taking such good care of me.
Dolores Montgomery Halbin, RN, BSN, and Ordained Nurse Minister, resides in SW Missouri. After her husband passed in 2015, she retired from nursing. She worked with the 2014-2018 Missouri campaigns for legalized medical marijuana. She continues as a cannabis reform activist working toward Federal decriminalization through educational speaking and freelance journalism. Doloreshalbin @ gmail. com.
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