Marijuana

As Illinois’ legal marijuana industry and the demand for educated workers grow, schools and companies are collaborating on cannabis classes.

The bill would put the hemp-derived THC products under the same regulations as marijuana. Proponents say it’s about safety, though critics complain it further fuels the ‘marijuana monopoly.’

Strong demand has led to a tighter cannabis supply as growers in the state adjust to meet consumers' needs.

St. Louis and St. Louis County are among the jurisdictions where voters approved the tax, but there are questions about the scope of countywide marijuana taxes.

The number of licenses DHSS approves for new employees each month has quadrupled since November.

Some members of the St. Louis County Council were upset that $300,000 was allocated to inform voters about the 3% tax on cannabis products.

A huge selling point for those who voted for Amendment 3 in November was the automatic expungement provision — meaning people who have already served their sentences for past charges will have their records cleared. All marijuana-related misdemeanors must be expunged by June 8 and felonies by Dec. 8.

Missouri’s recent legalization of recreational, adult-use marijuana has opened new opportunities for more people to buy from dispensaries. Experts say the state’s relatively low prices and taxes have created a “canna-tourism” industry.

The 2022 ballot item legalizing recreational marijuana allows local governments to levy a 3% tax on sales with voter approval.

Nearly all of Missouri's businesses approved to sell medical marijuana applied for a license to also sell it for recreational use.