Why it matters: Missouri’s legal cannabis market has surpassed $1 billion in sales in just three months of the adult-use market being open.
What they are saying: Andrew Mullins, the Executive Director of the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, stated that the cannabis industry provided jobs, affordable product access and a selection of great products and services to Missouri consumers and was an integral part of the state’s local economy.
The big picture: Missouri’s monthly total cannabis sales since it became legal for adult-use cannabis in February 2021 surpassed what Illinois recorded over the same period in 2020.
What to watch: The passing of Amendment 3, which legalizes recreational cannabis for adults aged 21 and older, has greatly impacted Missouri, with over 31,000 prior pot-related convictions expunged and a predicted increase in expungements in the coming months.
My take: Missouri’s legal cannabis market’s rapid success provides insight into the impact of legalization on states. As the legal cannabis market continues to grow in different states, its importance in that state’s local economy will inevitably become more prominent.
