Recreational marijuana, which passed in the 2022 general election via Amendment 3, is now available for purchase for adults 21 and up in dispensaries across Missouri, including in Springfield.
While many dispensaries and eager customers were previously anticipating Monday, Feb. 6, to be the first day of recreational marijuana sales, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services began approving recreational licenses on Friday, Feb. 3.
A number of dispensaries in Springfield and 196 across Missouri were cleared to begin recreational sales on Friday morning, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. More comprehensive licenses could be issued throughout the day. In addition, cultivation facilities and infused product manufacturing facilities began receiving recreational licenses as well.
Old Route 66 Wellness, a dispensary on North Glenstone near Interstate 44, made its first recreational marijuana sale at 9:02 a.m., according to owner John Lopez.
“I think it was the first [sale] in the state,” he said. “I haven’t seen anyone post earlier.”
By noon, the parking lot was full and their staff was handling a steady flow of customers.
Because Lopez originally anticipated Feb. 6 to be their first day of recreational sales, he wrote the schedule accordingly. But when he received an email early Friday morning from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), he sent out texts to his staff saying, “All hands on deck.”
“But this morning when I got the email, I just looked at it as a positive,” he said. “I know we're not staffed today, we’re staffed Monday, but we've got a great crew, and I know we can handle it.”
Despite the early business, Lopez said he expected that crowd to grow throughout the day as more people got off work and became aware that recreational marijuana was available.
Emmett Reid, a California native who moved to Missouri over a decade ago, said it was a “relief” to be able to participate in the legal, recreational market.
“I saw the news this morning,” Reid said. “The newscaster said, ‘get up, call and see because some people got their license approved a little bit earlier.’ I called, [Old Route 66 Wellness] said ‘come down today,’ so we’re here.”
Maya Colton, on the other hand, was shopping as a medical customer, having just become one in January of this year. She braved the (recreational) crowd after hearing about a discount for medical card holders.
Which Springfield dispensaries are cleared to sell?
A list of all the licensed facilities can be found here.
Springfield dispensaries that have received their comprehensive licenses and are approved to operate include:
- BD Health Retail 2, LLC
- MO Retail Products Group, Inc.
- BBMO 2, LLC
- Old Route 66 Wellness, LLC
- Revival Ninety-Eight, LLC
- Ozarx Botanicals I, LLC
- OWG I, LLC
- Bloom Medicinals of MO, LLC
- V3 MO Vending 5, LLC
- Grassroots OpCo MO, LLC
- Flora Farms Springfield Dispensary
In order to ensure each approved facility is open and selling recreationally at this time, interested customers should call or check the social media pages of dispensaries before going to buy.
Editor’s note: This story will be updated as details become available.
