Missouri outlines marijuana microbusiness enforcement and operations in 2025 equity report
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Division of Cannabis Regulation released its 2025 Chief Equity Officer Activity Report, detailing enforcement actions, operational progress, and rule revisions within the state’s microbusiness cannabis program.
The annual report, required under Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution, outlines how DCR implemented social and economic equity provisions tied to microbusiness licensing during 2025.
Missouri’s microbusiness program is intended to provide a pathway to cannabis facility ownership for eligible individuals and operates on a smaller scale than comprehensive licenses.
The constitution requires a minimum of 144 microbusiness licenses to be awarded across three rounds, evenly distributed among the state’s eight congressional districts through a lottery system.
Following federal approval to conduct fingerprint-based background checks, DCR reviewed ownership interests for licensed microbusinesses. Of 116 owners evaluated, three were found to have disqualifying felony offenses and had licenses revoked, while four failed to comply with fingerprint requests and remain subject to enforcement action. The remaining owners passed background checks. No microbusiness facility agent identification cards were revoked during the year.
DCR also completed post-licensure verification reviews for licenses issued during the first and second microbusiness rounds. Of the 57 licenses issued in the second round, 24 were revoked for failure to demonstrate majority ownership and operation by eligible individuals, and one was revoked due to a disqualifying felony offense.
As of the end of the year, 15 microbusiness facilities were approved to operate following commencement inspections. These included three Round 1 dispensaries, nine Round 1 wholesale facilities, and three Round 2 wholesale facilities. Twenty-five Round 1 licensees received operational deadline extensions after submitting variance requests.
The report also states that DCR initiated rule revisions for the microbusiness program in 2025 after reviewing outcomes from the first two licensing rounds.
Proposed amendments were filed with the Missouri Secretary of State in November, and the third licensing round will be announced once revised rules take effect.
