According to the latest figures released by Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services, marijuana businesses in Missouri have sold more than one billion dollars worth of cannabis products for medical and adult use so far in 2023.
In October, retailers sold cannabis products worth $95.5 million to adults and another $17.6 millions in medical marijuana. Both of these figures represent a slight decrease from the previous month, but they bring the total amount of marijuana that will be sold by the state in 2023 above $1.1 billion.
In general, the number of adult users has slowly increased since began recreational sales in February. Meanwhile, medical marijuana sales are steadily declining. The number of medical marijuana patients and caregivers, as well as patient cultivators has decreased this year.
According to DHHS , the total cannabis sales from 2020 onwards has been $1.7 billion.
Missouri DHHS rounds the numbers to the nearest $100,000, unlike most states that do not.
Missouri’s marijuana industry has also been a source of controversy this year. Tens of thousands of products were recalled due to the alleged illegal use of hemp derived cannabinoids imported from outside of the state. Last week, regulators moved to revoke Delta Extraction‘s business license.
The incident has put state marijuana regulators in a bind regarding the practices at product testing laboratories. They had been under fire earlier this year for alleged “lab shopping”, where producers were allegedly seeking higher THC potency.
A dispute between a union and another company, Retailer Point Management (doing business as Shangri-La Columbia) was recently resolved after 15 unfair labor practices were alleged.
Earlier this month, lawmakers said that the state’s cannabis regulators had overstepped their powers when they set new rules for product branding and packaging intended to limit appeal to kids.
Last month, businesses also filed a suit challenging the “stacked tax” on local and county taxes which they claim is unconstitutional.
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The article Missouri Marijuana Businesses have Sold more than $1 Billion in Cannabis Products by 2023 first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
