Micro Biz News ~
Gateway Grown,
Difficult and Impossible Are Not the Same
by Samantha Blum, contributing writer
Pie Scream flower from genetics evaluated by the Gateway Grown team. The photo does not depict a current Gateway Grown retail product.
Gateway Grown’ s Missouri microbusiness cultivation facility began not as a fashionable cannabis idea, but rather as a venture initiated by veterans who already knew the value of relying on one another.
“ One of the greatest strengths of a microbusiness is that we can stay close to the plant, listen to consumers, and move quickly when either tells us something is changing,” says Gateway Grown team member Craig Flanigan.
Some of the Gateway Grown team’ s relationships began before microbusiness boot camp, and others developed while they were in military service. Years later, a few of them met again through St. Louis Blues Warrior Hockey, a veteran hockey organization created to promote community and camaraderie among disabled veterans. When Gateway Grown was established, the foundation was already in place: trust, accountability, discipline, and the unspoken realization that no one makes it through difficult times alone.
That matters because this hasn’ t been easy.
The Gateway Grown team describes its brand as Missouri-made craft cannabis guided by veterans, defining premium in terms of care rather than noise. They take no shortcuts and don’ t pretend that difficulty reduces the standard— they never chase hype when the work itself is meant to speak.
Their military background is clear in how they discuss business: plans change, difficulties arise, and conditions are seldom ideal, yet the mission must still be completed. In the case of operating a micro cannabis business, that mission has meant dealing with construction delays, changing timelines, financing, security, compliance, inspections, equipment, cultivation planning, and the frustrating domino effect in which one delay leads to another.
“ The hardest part was knowing exactly where we needed to go but not always being able to control how quickly every piece could get us there,” said Gateway Grown team member Travis Dickens.
The Lab room at Gateway Grown.
Yet they continued to move. As Gateway Grown put it, difficulty and impossibility are not the same.
To the team, the path of cultivation was the correct one, since it starts with the plant. Retail has a direct link with consumers, but wholesale begins at ground level, where genetics, the environment, patience, and discipline must all work together.
( Above) A prepared flowering room that will soon be full of plants at Gateway Grown’ s Missouri microbusiness cultivation facility. This photo shows the multi-level lighting and cultivation infrastructure.
( Left) Gateway Grown’ s post-harvest, trimming and packaging area, designed for flower finishing and preparation after harvest.
( All photos courtesy of Gateway Grown, 2026.)
Their idea of quality is remarkably broader than that of THC. Aroma is important, flavor is important, and so is structure, expression, finish, consistency, and processing potential, particularly when a team is aiming to produce solventless products such as cold-water hash, rosin, live rosin carts, and infused pre-rolls.
“ We do not want quality to mean that we grew something over a certain THC percentage. We want it to mean that when someone chooses Gateway Grown products, they know the care and standard behind it will be there every time.” said Leslie( Keith) McCarty, team member.
18 October 2026