Missouri remits nearly $ 7 million in cannabis receipts to veterans |

The Missouri Department of Health announced Thursday that it has initiated the second required transfer of proceeds from the state’s new medical marijuana program to the Missouri Veterans Commission.

The total amount of funds transferred is $ 6,843,310, up from the first transfer in September last year which was $ 2,135,510.

Funds transfer is required under the Medical Marijuana Legalization Amendment approved by Missouri voters in 2018. A provision under the amendment, now known as Article XIV, requires “Fees and taxes of [Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services] for the medical marijuana program should be deducted from operating costs to the [Missouri Veterans Commission] for health and care services for military veterans, ”the agency said in a press release on Thursday.

The department said it had “collected fees related to the licensing of facilities and patients” and that “Article XIV states that medical marijuana sold in licensed dispensaries is taxed at a rate of 4%”.

Article XIV states that the remainder of medical marijuana funds must go to the Veterans Commission “for health and care services for military veterans, including the following purposes: the operation, maintenance and capital improvements of veteran homes in Missouri, the Missouri and Duty Officer program other”. Veterans services approved by the Commission including, but not limited to, health services, mental health services, drug rehabilitation services, housing assistance, vocational training, study assistance and housing assistance to prevent homelessness.

Missouri voters overwhelmingly voted for the change to legalize medical cannabis in the state, passing the measure with a margin of 66-34 percent.

The state’s first pharmacies opened their doors to customers in October 2020.

Since then, the Show Me State program has been booming. The Missouri Department of Health said earlier this month that the medical cannabis program has grown to just over 140 pharmacies – still just below the 192 required by the change – and the industry employs about 5,000 people.

By the end of July, the department announced that medical marijuana sales had dwarfed $ 91 million.

“The amendment that was voted on says that we should open at least the minimum of 192 pharmacies,” said Lyndall Fraker, director of the medical marijuana division at the Missouri Department of Health. “To date we have 142 open. We have done the math and based on the number of quantities each patient can buy each month, how much product would be required to serve the patient base and we believe we will be good for five or six years. “

At the time of the first handover to the Veterans Commission last year, Fraker found that the facilities were “going into operation and the first test laboratory” [was] on the right track to be ready for use shortly. ”

“We are confident that medical marijuana will be available to patients this month, and I am grateful for the hard work of so many who have got us here,” Fraker said at the time.

On Thursday, Fraker expressed satisfaction with the recent money transfer to the Veterans Commission.

“Patients are now served by more than 140 pharmacies in Missouri and we are excited to see their sales where they are,” said Fraker. “Ultimately, we can provide the urgently needed funding for the Veterans Commission.”

Paul Kirchhoff, Executive Director of the Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC), commented on the use of the funds.

“MVC will use these funds for veteran health and safety initiatives that are envisaged in House Bill 8,” Kirchhof said. “Some of these funds will also be used to complete the Missouri Veterans Cemetery – Jacksonville Columbarium Wall.”