Missouri’s 2022 constitutional Amendment 3 legalized recreational marijuana, but it also embedded a complex and controversial regulatory structure directly into the state constitution. Critics argue this system is tailor-made for abuse, centralizing control and creating opportunities for insider favoritism, exploitation by bad actors, and even infiltration by criminal enterprises.
Amendment 3 passed narrowly and set strict limits on the number of comprehensive licenses available in the state. These licenses were initially awarded to those who already held medical marijuana permits, creating what many call a closed, insider-friendly marketplace. In an effort to offset this, the amendment created a new regulatory category: microbusiness licenses, designed to provide opportunities to applicants from “marginalized” communities.
Who Really Benefits From Missouri’s Marijuana Licenses?
At the heart of this new system is the Chief Equity Officer (CEO), a position housed within the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). The CEO oversees the application process for microbusiness licenses, which are intended to benefit individuals who meet certain criteria, including living in high-poverty areas, having past marijuana-related convictions, or being a racial or ethnic minority. The current Chief Equity Officer, Abigail Vivas, was appointed in 2023.
On paper, these provisions were framed as a remedy ...
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