Along with the New Year, comes new licenses for medical marijuana facilities in Missouri. New medical marijuana cultivation licenses have been issued across the state. Companies, however, must be approved for this license.

The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) began issuing 60 licenses for medical marijuana cultivation facilities on Dec. 26, 2019. Those approved in the nearby area include O’Fallon, Saint Louis and Cuba. 

The DHSS issued 24 transportation licenses as well, which were made known on Dec. 23, 2019. The locations of those approved in the area include St.Louis, Eureka, Festus and Florissant. 

The DHSS also released a list of approved locations in the state for medical marijuana infused product manufacturers. No locations in Wildwood were approved. 

In order to be approved, each facility had to undergo a lengthy application process. 

“Throughout this entire process, it has been important to us to be fair and transparent as we implement all pieces of this program,” Lyndall Fraker, director of the DHSS Section for Medical Marijuana Regulation, said on the DHSS website. “This is why we chose to employ a ‘blind’ application scorer who had no access to applicants’ identifying information.”

According to DHSS, medical marijuana dispensaries will be issued licenses on Jan. 24, and Seed For Sale licenses will be approved on Jan. 31.

Places will learn if they have been granted a license to sell medical marijuana on Jan. 24. This includes The Forest, a dispensary located about 1,000 feet from Ellisville Elementary School in Ellisville.