Dabstract returns to Missouri: CEO Eli Korer discusses partnership and process

Dabstract is officially back in the Missouri, this time with a sharpened strategy, a new in-state partner, and a renewed commitment to the market.

Through a newly announced partnership with Standard Wellness, the award-winning concentrate brand will bring its live resin high terpene extract products, including its rechargeable all-in-one device, vape cartridges, and concentrates, to dispensaries across the state in early 2026.

For CEO Eli Korer, the return is not simply a relaunch. It is a recalibration.

“It was an absolute pleasure working with the entire team at Mana Supply,” Korer said, reflecting on Dabstract’s earlier presence in Missouri. “When you’re looking to work with groups in different places, you’re looking for a long-term relationship. You could not find better people. Everybody there we absolutely adore. But I think in a lot of circumstances, relationships evolve. And I think you need to really appreciate that markets evolve.”

“Missouri is not the same place that it is today as when we entered a couple of years ago,” Korer continued. “I think it’s very complicated, and I think there’s a lot going on. And all we want to do is just sell great dabs and great vapes. That’s our goal.”

A brand built on consistency

Founded in Washington State, Dabstract built its reputation on terpene-forward extraction and a focus on consistency across markets.

“What I can tell you is it’s finding the right group that wants to do that with you and bring your product to market,” Korer said. “And I know Standard Wellness has been an unconditional partner to us in Missouri doing that.”

He pointed specifically to the extraction team.

“When you look at someone like Zach, who runs their extraction, he’s won multiple Missouri Growers Cup awards in his own right across a ton of concentrate categories. We couldn’t find a better extractor to work with and really pair with our own experience.”

For Dabstract, expansion into new states is never plug-and-play.

“In every state, we bring all of our patents, our SOPs, our work instructions,” Korer said. “Our head of ops, Dylan Thiel, who’s also one of the founders, is on site everywhere and working with the teams and integrating as that perfect articulated piece.”

Korer added that the relationship is hands-on and ongoing.

“We’re involved every week. You’ve got to be. You’ve got to love looking at COAs,” he said. “I say that as a joke, but really, that’s what translates into the product. It’s the dutiful tending to that garden over and over again because it’s always variable and there’s always something going on.”

Why Missouri still matters

Even as Dabstract evaluates expansion into additional East Coast markets, Missouri remains a central focus.

“Missouri is our focus. Standard Wellness is such a phenomenal partner,” Korer said. “We want to make sure that it’s the ultimate home run.”

That means reconnecting with the community and approaching the market differently than before.

“I think cannabis companies that expand to other places – it takes a tremendous amount of courage,” Korer stated.

“It takes a lot of belief that your product is really the best or really great or can compete. You always want to give people different flavors, different experiences. You want to make sure that it’s the best you can physically do.”

Looking back at the first entry into Missouri, Korer acknowledged that local presence is critical.

   

“What I think we didn’t do in the right way when we were entering Missouri the first time was bringing in someone local, a brand rep, someone in the field,” he said. “You want someone that can speak to it and really believes in it because that’s what we would do if we were going and selling and working with the buyer, the budtender, or the consumer at every level.”

“The idea is to find the right people. It’s like a Cinderella thing. You need to find the right foot for the glass slipper.”

Product differentiation

As part of the relaunch, Dabstract will introduce its Live Resin HTE All-in-One device to Missouri consumers.

“So what we do is a live resin HTE blend with distillate,” Korer explained. “We find that that formula really makes it last the whole way through, and it allows you to keep the flavor profile the whole way through. Our goal always is you can use the whole thing and it’ll taste the same from top to bottom. I think that’s the biggest differentiator.”

He described the internal philosophy simply.

“Our team has such an unbelievable confidence in the formula and the process behind it,” Korer said. “I think that’s always what Dabstract has stood for. This is the best cart just bar none. That’s what they believe.”

Transparency is also central to the brand’s identity, particularly in Missouri’s regulated environment.

“We put it on our box. We list all the terpenes,” he said. “In Missouri, you don’t just list the top three, you have to list everything. It’s literally right on the box. I think it’s super transparent.”

He added that flavor diversity remains key.

“People have different flavor preferences. I like limonene and some people don’t. What are you going to do about it? That’s why you got to have so many different options available because people resonate with what they resonate with.”

A second act

For Korer, the return to Missouri is both strategic and personal.

“I’ve been to almost every MoCann meeting for three or four years,” he said. “Putting in the time is essential.”

He described the process of reentering a market as equal parts operational discipline and community engagement.

“It’s going out on a limb. It’s approaching total strangers and telling them you love their flower. Being unabashed about that is really important because that’s what involves you in the community.”

As products begin to reappear on shelves across Missouri in early 2026, Korer said the goal is simple.

“Every consumer should get the best product that they can,” he said. “We’re just excited to be part of the mix.”