Round 3 Application Window

Expected Spring 2025

A microbusiness is a marijuana facility license issued only to eligible individuals and entities. These licenses are essentially small businesses that are designed to allow marginalized or under-represented individuals to participate in the legal marijuana market. As Deb has been actively involved in the Missouri Cannabis Industry since 2019 she is offering both 1 hour consults just to answer questions or review applications or Flat-Rate packages to answer all your questions and help you prepare your application for submittal. While Deb primarily works virtually she is happy to travel to your location for an additional fee…or meet with her in the Joplin area for no additional fee.

• Majority owners must meet at least one eligibility criteria from Article XIV, Section 2.
• An owner of a microbusiness facility may not also be an owner of another licensed marijuana facility or medical facility.
• An entity/individual may only apply for and obtain one microbusiness license.
• A marijuana facility shall not have as an owner any individual with a disqualifying felony offense.
• Licenses will be awarded by lottery drawing.

Eligibility Criteria

The Missouri Constitution provides that microbusinesses must be majority owned by individuals who meet at least one of the eligibility criteria set forth in Article XIV, Section 2. Applicants may claim more than one eligibility requirement on their application, however, it is not required.

A net worth of less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) and have had an income below two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty level, or a successor level, as set forth in the applicable calendar year’s federal poverty income guidelines published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or its successor agency, for at least three (3) of the ten (10) calendar years prior to applying for a microbusiness license;

• Sworn financial statements demonstrating a net worth at the time of the application of less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000). This includes all marital property, unless applicant provides evidence sufficient to demonstrate that property is not jointly owned; and
• Documentation establishing that the applicant’s gross household income was below two hundred and fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for at least three (3) of the last ten (10) years. Income for each year claimed may be established by tax returns, paycheck stubs summarizing the full income from the source for the year, W-2s, evidence of job loss, or other documentation sufficient to demonstrate gross income below two hundred and fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty level during the applicable year.

Have a valid service-connected disability card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or successor agency;

•  A copy of the front of the applicant’s current veteran health identification card demonstrating a service-connected disability; or
• A copy of the applicant’s VA benefit summary letter, dated within six (6) months before the date of the application, demonstrating a service-connected disability; or
• A copy of the applicant’s VA award letter, dated within six (6) months before the date of the application, demonstrating a service-connected disability; or
• If none of these proofs are available, some other current evidence of service-connected disability which the department determines is sufficient proof of service-connected disability.

Be a person who has been, or a person whose parent, guardian, or spouse has been arrested for, prosecuted for, or convicted of a non-violent marijuana offense at least one (1) year prior to the effective date of this section, unless the conviction—

1. Involved provision of marijuana to a minor; or
2. Was for driving under the influence of marijuana
   • 1. A copy of the relevant arrest record; or
   • 2. A copy of the relevant FBI background check; or
   • 3. A copy of the relevant arrest record and a letter from the prosecutor’s office indicating the charge filed; or
   • 4. A copy of the relevant arrest record and a certified copy of the judgment of conviction; or
   • 5. A copy of the relevant arrest record and a certificate of expungement from a court; or
   • 6. If none of these proofs are available, some other evidence of the arrest, prosecution, or conviction which the department determines is sufficient proof of arrest, prosecution, or conviction of a non-violent marijuana offense; and
3. If the arrest, prosecution, or conviction was for the applicant’s parent, guardian, or spouse:
   • ·  a. A valid (not expired), government-issued photo ID of the parent, guardian, or spouse; and
   • ·  b. Proof of relationship:
   • i. A certified copy of the applicant’s birth certificate; or
   • ii. A certified copy of the judgment of adoption or guardianship; or
   • iii. A certified copy of the marriage certificate; or
   • iv. If none of these proofs are available, some other evidence of relationship which the department determines is sufficient proof of relationship.

Reside in a ZIP code or census tract area where—

1. Thirty percent (30%) or more of the population lives below the federal poverty level; or
2. The rate of unemployment is fifty percent (50%) higher than the state average rate of unemployment; or
3. The historic rate of incarceration for marijuana-related offenses is fifty percent (50%) higher than the rate for the entire state; or
   • . Two (2) separate types of utility bills (i.e. one water bill, one electric bill) dated within the last four (4) months, which must include:
   • a. The name of the applicant;
   • b. The dates of service;
   • c. The service address; and
   • d. The billing address; or
   • A copy of a current residential lease, which must include the name of the applicant, the full address, the date the lease went in to effect and expires, and an affidavit from the applicant stating the applicant resides at that address; or
   • A copy of a residential mortgage which includes the name of the applicant and the full address, and an affidavit from the applicant stating the applicant resides at that address; or
   • A copy of the applicant’s real or personal property taxes, dated within the past twelve (12) months, which must include the applicant’s name, address, and the date assessed; or
   • Other documentation sufficient to demonstrate residency; and
   • Documentation or screenshot from the most recent 5-year estimates published by the American Community Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau, for the department to verify the claimed resident

Graduated from a school district that was unaccredited, or had a similar successor designation, at the time of graduation, or has lived in a ZIP code containing an unaccredited school district, or similar successor designation, for

• Documentation from the school district or a state accrediting authority sufficient for the department to verify that the school district was unaccredited at the time of graduation; and

1. An official copy of the applicant’s high school diploma; or
2. A letter from the applicant’s high school demonstrating that the applicant graduated from the school and the year the applicant graduated

For applicants claiming residency in a ZIP code containing an unaccredited school district, or similar successor designation for three (3) of the past five (5) years: 

• Documentation from the school district or a state accrediting authority sufficient for the department to verify that the school district was unaccredited during at least one (1) of the three (3) years the applicant resided in the school district; and
• 2. A copy of two (2) separate types of utility bills (i.e. one water bill, one electric bill,) for each quarter of the three (3) years that the applicant claims to have lived in said location which must include:
• a. The name of the applicant;
• b. The dates of service;
• c. The service address; and
• d. The billing address; or
• 3. Copies of residential leases for three (3) of the past five (5) years, which must include the name of the applicant, the full address, and the effective date and the expiration date of the lease; or
• 4. A copy of a residential mortgage which includes the name of the applicant and the address, along with an affidavit that the applicant resided at that address during the applicable years; or
• 5. A copy of three (3) of the last five (5) years’ real or personal property taxes for the applicant, which must include the applicant’s name, address, and the date; or
• 6. An applicant may provide any of the acceptable types of documentation for each year they are claiming residency in the ZIP code (i.e., utility bills from one year, lease from a separate year, and property taxes for a third year).