Funds transferred to beneficiaries of state’s adult-use cannabis program

This week, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) transferred $10,918,344 in funds generated by Missouri’s adult use marijuana program to agencies as outlined in Article XIV, Section 2, of the Missouri Constitution. Recipient agencies of adult use program funds include the following:

Missouri Veterans Commission ($3,639,448): for use exclusively for health care and other services for military veterans and their dependent families;
Missouri State Public Defender ($3,639,448): to be used only for legal assistance for low-income Missourians;
DHSS ($3,639,448): to operate a grant program for subrecipients to increase access to evidence-based, low-barrier drug addiction treatment prioritizing medically proven treatment and overdose prevention and reversal methods and public or private treatment options with an emphasis on reintegrating recipients into their local communities, to support overdose prevention education, and to support job placement, housing, and counseling for those with substance use disorders.

In November 2022, Missouri voters approved an amendment. The amendment included provisions requiring that fees and taxes generated by the adult use marijuana program be transferred to MVC, Missouri State Public Defender and DHSS for purposes outlined above. Article XIV, Section 2, states that adult use marijuana sold in licensed dispensaries is to be (state) taxed at a rate of 6%.