Missouri’s cannabis industry has significantly contributed to state revenues, enabling substantial allocations to support veterans’ services, drug addiction treatment programs, and legal aid. Since the legalization of medical marijuana in 2018 and recreational use in 2022, the state has collected over $150 million from taxes and program fees.
Revenue Distribution
The constitutional amendments legalizing cannabis in Missouri specify the allocation of collected revenues:
• Veterans Services: The Missouri Veterans Commission has received nearly $40 million from medical marijuana sales revenue, including $13 million in the current fiscal year.
• Drug Addiction Treatment: The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) utilizes its share to fund grants aimed at increasing access to evidence-based, low-barrier drug addiction treatments.
• Legal Aid: The Missouri State Public Defender system receives funds to provide legal assistance to low-income residents.
In May 2024, state regulators announced that Missouri had allocated over $19 million in cannabis revenue toward these initiatives since legalization.
Future Projections
Amy Moore, director of the Division of Cannabis Regulation, informed the House Veterans Committee that the Missouri Veterans Commission is projected to receive about $19 million from marijuana sales revenue before the current fiscal year ends on July 1. If the governor’s budget recommendations are approved, this amount could increase to $22 million in the following year.
