DHSS publishes draft microbusiness rule revisions

Following the first two rounds of microbusiness licensing, the Department of Health and Senior Services’ Division of Cannabis Regulation has published a first draft of microbusiness rule revisions to 19 CSR 100-1.060 and 19 CSR 100-1.190 for public feedback. These revisions are intended to ensure microbusiness licenses are issued to eligible individuals, as required by Article XIV, and to address the trend of predatory arrangements in microbusiness licensing. Specifically, these draft rule revisions should mitigate the ongoing efforts of ineligible entities to acquire licenses by taking advantage of eligible individuals.

Microbusinesses are marijuana facility licenses that are only issued to eligible entities and are designed to allow marginalized or under-represented individuals to participate in the legal marijuana market. Microbusiness licenses are intended to provide a path to legal marijuana facility ownership for individuals who might not otherwise easily access that opportunity. Article XIV is clear that microbusiness licenses must be owned and operated by eligible individuals. A purported owner with little to no knowledge, control, agency or decision-making authority in an application or license does not meet the intent or meaning of the requirement in Article XIV.

   

As part of its effort to gather all relevant input, the Division of Cannabis Regulation is encouraging feedback from the public regarding the first draft of microbusiness rule revisions for two weeks, ending Jan. 6, 2024. The rules are available at: https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/draft-rules.php. Suggestions for this initial draft may be submitted through the online suggestion form.