Missouri Officials Propose Tightening Cannabis Licensing Rules

Officials with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) have proposed new rules to help regulators counteract “predatory practices” by some applicants aiming to abuse the state’s cannabis social equity provisions, FOX2 reports.

The rules, which will be published in the Missouri Register in mid-December, would set a 60-day window for regulators to rescind a license if they determine any fraudulent activity or misrepresentation is involved. They would also give the state stronger subpoena powers when investigating the ownership of a company or organization, redefine the “designated contact” role for cannabis licensees, and fine-tune the program’s equity eligibility checks.

The new rules will be available for public comment from December 15, 2025, to January 14, 2026. After that, officials will file the final versions of the rules.

Meanwhile, regulators last month considered curbside pick-up regulations for state-licensed cannabis retailers.

In August, cannabis regulators asked for expansions to their authority to prevent cannabis business owners who have had their license revoked from pursuing and acquiring another industry license.