Legal marijuana is good for business. According to an analysis of state labor from Missouri, nearly 1 in 10 new jobs was linked to the state’s recently functional medical marijuana industry.
The report shows some details of medical cannabis’s first year of operations, calculated between December 2020 and December 2021, showing that medical cannabis created 7,000 new jobs. A total of 77,600 jobs were created overall.
“Missouri’s medical cannabis industry is delivering on its promise of not only providing safe, affordable and convenient access for patients but also helping to infuse the state’s economy with sizable investment and millions in new tax revenue,” said Andrew Mullins, executive director of MoCannTrade.
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According to Jay Patel, CEO of Green Releaf Dispensaries, “Medical cannabis is hands down the most impactful collective investment our state has seen in recent memory.”
Missouri’s medical marijuana program has been incredibly successful, attracting 170,000 registered patients and creating over $200 million in sales. To date, the state has approved 322 medical marijuana facilities, including dispensaries and cultivation facilities.
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Medical marijuana was legalized in Missouri in 2018, with the state’s first legal sale in October 2020. Under this ruling, doctors are able to recommend cannabis treatment to patients who fit the state’s criteria. Conditions treated by the program include cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, migraines, and more.
People who live in Missouri can apply for medical marijuana cards and home cultivation cards for a $25 and $100 fee, respectively.
