Last month I talked about low inventory at dispensaries and , in some cases , empty shelves . With the legalization of adult use launching in February , only three months ago , it ’ s difficult to understand why consumers are already experiencing marijuana shortages , reportedly leading to increased prices . It all boils down to the preverbal “ perfect storm .”
Missouri originally forecasted $ 50- $ 60 million spent on cannabis . However , the state ’ s total cannabis sales through March reached $ 126.2 million . While the demand for legal cannabis is obviously “ high ,” of Missouri ’ s eight bordering states , only one , Illinois , has legalized recreational use , with Arkansas , Iowa , Kentucky , and Oklahoma allowing medical use only . Dispensaries are seeing very high demand from outside of Missouri , which was not factored into original forecasts , and many licensed cultivators were not fully prepared . Reportedly , nearly 40 percent of all sales within the Kansas City area come from Kansas , namely Wyandotte and Johnson counties .
In March , dispensaries were bombarded with out-of-state basketball fans making adult-use purchases . Next , in April , we had sports fans in KC for the NFL Drafts , and World Cup fans will soon follow .
In 2019 DHSS issued licenses to 60 cultivation facilities — they grow the in-demand flower ; however , currently , only 51 of those 60 businesses are operational . That means nine ( 9 ) cultivation facilities never built out or grew a single plant . There are simply not enough plants to meet demand . So , it all starts with not enough cultivators and those that are growing are unable to keep up with the high demand . From there , it all moves along the chain , with manufacturers begging for “ Bud ” and then paying more for what ’ s grown . Ultimately , this leads to higher prices at dispensaries .
On a good note , the 51 licensed cultivators are ramping up production and expanding grow facilities . Flora Farms of Humansville , MO , already has one of the state ’ s largest cultivation facilities , and now it is expanding that facility with an additional building . Karla Deel , marketing director for Flora Farms , says the new building will increase capacity by 250 %, with upwards of 21,000 plants constantly growing , allowing harvesting ( flower / bud ) every three days throughout the entire grow facility . Ultimately , this means more flower and related products on store shelves soon .
The shortage will not last long . So chill and remember way back to January ( or birth ) when you could not legally purchase .
Growing your own is also an option . You could always apply to the DHSS for your home-grow permit . Jay Richardson has written a great four-part series , “ How to Grow Plants from Seed to Maturity ,” with part four on page 40 . His last three articles can be found in past issues on our website . Want flower faster and cheaper : Jay will guide you through the process with everything you need to know .
Speaking of shortages , we too are facing something similar — all the new adult-use ( aka recreational ) readers are grabbing copies as quickly as we fill the magazine racks . Like the flower , there is not an endless supply of magazines . Grab your copy fast , but if that rack is empty , you can always subscribe and have a copy delivered to your mailbox . Details for ordering are found on our website .
Have a great month , and remember , those April showers , bring May Flower !
6 May 2023
From The Editor
Bill Cromwell , Publisher , Editor-in-Chief
Missouri Canna Sales Booming !
Where businesses prepared ?
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 , 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 2196 , Independence , MO 64055
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
● Jason Mispagel , — Home Growers Education Columnist
● Dr . Poppa , D . O ., M . B . A . ― Medical Health News
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● Rocco Scarcello ― Educational
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