On April 14, 2025, the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) revoked 25 cannabis microbusiness licenses, citing failures to meet ownership and eligibility requirements. This action follows the issuance of 32 Notices of Pending Revocation (NOPR) in October 2024 to licensees awarded in July 2024. After a 30-day response period, seven licensees satisfied the requirements and retained their licenses, while 24 were revoked for not demonstrating majority ownership and operation by eligible individuals, and one was revoked due to a disqualifying felony offense.
The microbusiness program, established under Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution, aims to provide cannabis business opportunities to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Eligibility criteria include having a net worth under $250,000, being a veteran with a service-connected disability, or having a history of nonviolent marijuana offenses.
With these recent revocations, the DCR has rescinded 34 of the 96 microbusiness licenses issued since the program’s inception in 2023. Regulators have expressed concerns about predatory practices, where well-connected investors recruit eligible individuals to apply for licenses, only to limit their control and profits through contractual agreements.
Amy Moore, director of the DCR, emphasized the unsustainability of repeated license issuance and revocation cycles, stating, “We’re never going to get this market fully built out” under current conditions.
