Missouri

Missouri awards second round of marijuana microbusiness licenses, 5 in Springfield

Published

2 years ago

July 26, 2024

Missouri awards second round of marijuana microbusiness licenses, 5 in Springfield

The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation issued 57 marijuana microbusiness licenses in the second round of applications. A minimum of six licenses were awarded within each of the state’s eight congressional districts. Per district, two licenses are for microbusiness dispensaries and four are for microbusiness wholesale facilities. In this round, an additional nine licenses were awarded due to the revocation of round one awardees for rule violations, including one in Springfield.

More than 2,000 applications were filed during the April 15-29 application period, according to a Department of Health and Senior Services news release. A microbusiness license allows licensees to operate on a smaller scale than medical or comprehensive licenses and the majority owner must meet certain criteria. The license is designed to provide a path to facility ownership for those for whom that opportunity may not be as easily accessible.

In the 7th District, which represents the southwest corner of the state, all three dispensary licenses were awarded in Springfield, two to individuals and one to Virgo Vermilio. With this type of license, these entities can process, package, deliver and sell marijuana and marijuana products to other microbusiness facilities and consumers.

For both of the individual licenses, John Payne, who was the campaign manager for Legal Missouri 2022 backing the legalization of marijuana in the state, is listed as the designated contact. Both of these license applications also list 1612 N. Lexington Ave. in northeast Springfield as the address, per DHSS lottery results. According to the Heyle Realtors website, this space is available to lease and was the former office and lab for the nearby railroad.

The address listed on the Virgo Vermilio’s application is 1770 W. Sunset St., which is where BluCurrent Credit Union is located. A representative from BluCurrent said the bank had no knowledge of the address being listed on applications and is not affiliated with any marijuana businesses. The address was likely listed due it being advertised for lease for half of the building where BluCurrent is housed, according to the Jared Commercial & Management website.

While Virgo Vermilio does not show up in the Secretary of State business search, the designated contact for the application is Amanda Kilroe, an attorney with Michigan-based commercial marijuana real estate agency Canna Zoned MLS. Another application with Kilroe as the contact had its license revoked in Columbia for Frankenstein Enemy LLC due to failure to respond and provide documents requested by the DHSS.

Both Payne and Kilroe appear as the designated contacts for numerous applications, with both the Lexington and Sunset locations listed for several applications. According to past News-Leader reporting, just because the address is listed in the application, does not mean the dispensary must operate there. As long as it remains housed within the 7th District, it can be built elsewhere. All marijuana microbusiness applicants had to provide proposed facility locations, however, and these locations had to comply with location requirements outlined in the Missouri Constitution. Applicants also had to submit proposed blueprints of the entire facility.

Wholesale facilities awarded in Springfield

Two of the five wholesale facility licenses for the 7th District were awarded to applicants in Springfield. With this type of license, these four entities can grow up to 250 flowering plants and then process, manufacture and transport the products.

Braxton Jeske and Andrew Dean Bedell were both awarded the license. Per DHSS, the address listed on the Jeske’s application is 3244 E. Gasconade St., a home in southwest Springfield. According to the Secretary of State business search, Jeske has three active LLCs registered at this address. The address in Bedell’s application is 1612 N. Lexington Ave.

The other wholesale licenses awarded in the 7th District were to Sacred Smoke LLC in Seneca, Monsta Farms LLC in Sarcoxie and Fallout170 in Sarcoxie.

The 57 microbusiness licenses were selected by a random lottery conducted by the Missouri Lottery without reference to the identities of the applicants to ensure the “integrity” of the random drawing, according to the news release. Prior to issuing the licenses, DHSS conducted a review to determine whether applicants were eligible to receive a license.

What’s next?

Marijuana microbusiness license holders are required to be in operation within two years of their business license issuance, according to previous News-Leader reporting. Over the next 60 days, DHSS will review eligibility for all 57 entities in order to certify them.

Applicants not selected in the lottery may be eligible for a refund of their application fees. Refund requests will be accepted from Aug. 24 through Jan. 24, 2025. Each applicant had to pay $1,500 to apply.

Another 48 licenses will be issued during the third and final round of microbusiness applications in 2025.

More: Here’s why these Springfield, Columbia marijuana microbusiness licenses were revoked

Who received the remaining marijuana microbusiness licenses?

District 1 Dispensaries

Millennium Retail LLC at 6934 Olive Blvd. in University City
Green Oasis LLC at 322 Taylor Rd. in Hazelwood
The Chronic Club LLC at 322 Taylor Rd. in Hazelwood

District 1 Wholesale Facilities

Rare Breed Farms at 1283 Research Blvd. in St. Louis
BlueMeanies at 1009 Locust St. in St. Louis
Platinum Craft at 1009 Locust St. in St. Louis
MicroLegacy at 1009 Locust St. in St. Louis

District 2 Dispensaries

Euphoria Group LLC at 16590 Manchester Rd. in Wildwood
Bug Stinging LLC at 3 Valley Park Rd. in Valley Park
Pure Leaf Labs LLC at 16345 Westwoods Business Park in Ellisville
Premium Pack LLC at 16345 Westwoods Business Park in Ellisville

District 2 Wholesale Facilities

Clifton Cannabis LLC at 1291 N. Highway Dr. in Fenton
Andrew Venne at 611 Trade Center Blvd. in Chesterfield
Wolfie Dank Co. at 670 Goddard Ave. in Chesterfield
Travis Dickens at 611 Trade Center Blvd. in Chesterfield

District 3 Dispensaries

Both are individuals at 3990 Mexico Rd. in Saint Peters

District 3 Wholesale Facilities

Twin Elephant at 6280 County Road 108 in Fulton
Individual at 1664 Highway W in Elsberry
DMS420 LLC at 7040B Highway HH in Catawissa
Individual at 1664 S. Highway W in Elsberry

District 4 Dispensaries

Potent Pals LLC at 501 W. Reed St. in Moberly
Xylo Gleam LLC at 689 S. Monroe St. in Lebanon
Divergent Dancers LLC at 689 S. Monroe St. in Lebanon
High & Tight LLC at 900 E. Broadway in Columbia

District 4 Wholesale Facilities

Lit Naturals LLC at 3421 State Route H in Fayette
High Maintenance Farm LLC at 4509 Interstate 70 Dr. SE in Columbia
Travis L Brown at 34651 Highway M in Edwards
Marley at 19015 S. Mackie Lane in Hartsburg

District 5 Dispensaries

KC Cultivators LLC at 1622-1624 Saint Louis Ave. in Kansas City
Flower to the People at 13621 US-40 E. in Independence
Farm Fantasies LLC at 3945 S. Bolger Rd. in Independence

District 5 Wholesale Facilities

Drama Dunes LLC at 704 Squire Ct. in Grain Valley
Cut the Grass LLC at 3690-3700 Main St. in Grandview
Verdant Sun Journey LLC at 113 Shotwell St. in Richmond
Cobalt Star Voyager LLC at 113 Shotwell St. in Richmond
Infinite Luck LLC at 340 NW Capital Dr. in Lee’s Summit

District 6 Dispensaries

Idyll Zone LLC at 119 S. Business Hwy 61 in Bowling Green
BL Enterprises at 4797 Siena Dr. Unit B in Saint Joseph
Captured Crescents LLC at 1403 N. Jesse James Rd. in Excelsior Springs

District 6 Wholesale Facilities

Individual at 35475 in Taylor (While this is an incomplete address, DHSS Communications Director Lisa Cox said there is only so much required early on in the application process.)
MB Doinks LLC at Pike 301 in Cyrenne
Individual at 35475 300th St. in Taylor
BK Doinks LLC Pike 301 in Cyrenne

District 8 Dispensaries

Individual at 330 N. Creek Dr. in Festus
Individual at 333 Leroux Dr. in Doniphan

District 8 Wholesale Facilities

Dorris Cultivating & Wholesale at 1166 Wayne Route EE in Silva
Andrew L Hoover at 16565 Highway BB in Licking
LL Wirtz LLC at 3602 Highway K in Bonne Terre
Baca Cultivating & Wholesale at 1166 Wayne Route EE in Silva

Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Have feedback, tips or story ideas? Contact her at mmieze@news-leader.com.

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Missouri

Missouri Farm Bureau to host agritourism conference in Hermann | Fulton Sun

Published

58 minutes ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

Missouri Farm Bureau to host agritourism conference in Hermann | Fulton Sun

Missouri Farm Bureau’s 2026 Agritourism Conference will be held Sunday through Tuesday in Hermann, bringing together agritourism stakeholders to explore opportunities in Missouri’s growing agritourism sector.

The conference usually draws 60-70 attendees annually, said Janet Adkison, director of public affairs and advocacy with Missouri Farm Bureau. This includes farmers, agribusiness leaders, tourism professionals and local economic development partners.

At the conference, participants will see firsthand how farms, wineries, orchards and other value-added agriculture business and rural destinations are connecting tourists and consumers with the state’s agriculture scene, while diversifying revenue streams for farm families and rural communities.

“Whenever folks think of agritourism, they think of a pumpkin patch or a flower farm,” Adkison said. “But agritourism is really anything that gets folks to connect with the agriculture industry. So from your Airbnbs that are out in rural Missouri to the wineries that you see across the countryside, to even a tree farm or just a simple orchard, those are all part of Missouri’s agritourism industry.”

The conference kicks off Sunday with welcome remarks by Missouri Farm Bureau president Garrett Hawkins and a dinner at Hermann Farm Store Barn. Participants will spend the nights at The Inn at Hermannhof.

Monday will include an agritourism bus tour, with stops at Thierbach Orchard, Heritage Valley Tree Farm, White Mule Winery & BNB and Cool Cow Cheese, where participants have the opportunity to speak to business owners.

It will be followed by a farm-to-table, wine-pairing dinner at Hermannhof Winery Court with the Missouri Wine & Grape Board.

“If you are somebody who’s interested in agritourism, you get to hear from somebody who’s been there and done that, and some of the hurdles that they may have experienced along the way,” Adkison said. “You’ll have that exposure both on the tour and also during the programs that they’ll provide on Tuesday.”

On the final day of the conference, participants will attend educational workshops and network with other vendors at Hermannhof Festhalle. Topics discussed in the workshops include marketing, risk management, USDA Rural Development resources for agricultural businesses.

“You’ll hear from some folks as far as the missteps or wins that they had while trying to market and get those crowds to come to the farm, and sometimes something might work, (or) something surprises you and it doesn’t work,” Adkison said.

The conference location rotates around the state each year — past stops have included northeast and west central Missouri, which Adkison said gives the conference a chance to showcase how agritourism looks based on the terrain and agricultural strength of each region.

Find out more about the event or register for it at mofb.org/event/2026-agritourism.

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Missouri

Missouri politicians champion unity, diversity on America’s 250th

Published

11 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

Missouri politicians champion unity, diversity on America’s 250th

Former Missouri Gov. Jeremiah “Jay” Nixon followed in his ancestor’s footsteps, 250 years to the day.

On July 8, 1776, Colonel John Nixon was the first person to publicly read the Declaration of Independence from the steps of the Pennsylvania State House, now Independence Hall.

Jay Nixon, along with other Missouri officials from local, state and national offices, participated in a semiquincentennial celebration at the Historical Greene County Courthouse on July 8, 2026.

“As we commemorate 250 years of American independence, may we remember not only the courage of those who signed the declaration, but also our responsibility to preserve the freedoms they declare,” said Connie Yen, director of the Greene County Archives and Records Center.

While the reading of the Declaration of Independence was the main event, patriotic music from the Salvation Army Band, Springfield Sound, the Patriotic Chorale — as well as the national anthem sung by former U.S. Attorney John Ashcroft and former judge and representative Max Bacon — rang throughout the courthouse’s rotunda, which was packed with people. The music itself, Ashcroft said, was a metaphor for the nation.

“There is something charming about America that doesn’t require that we be uniform. There’s a difference between unity and uniformity. As a matter of fact, you can’t have harmony if you only have one note. You have to sing different notes for things to be harmonic and it’s much more beautiful,” he said. “Maybe America is America not because of uniformity or everybody being in unison, but America may be America because we have disparity, but we’re in harmony. We believe in unity, not uniformity.”

Before reading the Declaration of Independence, Nixon shared part of a speech he gave at Fulton’s Westminster College in August 2025, where he encouraged people to “resist apathy with action” through involvement with civic and faith organizations, and by voting. Like others, he emphasized diversity as the strength of America.

“(We’re) a nation of immigrants. Many of our ancestors fled poverty, injustice and tyranny to build something better. We are the great-great-great-grandchildren of slaves, and those who enslaved them; the first families who inhabited these lands, and those who drove them from it,” Nixon said. “A nation of scrappy strivers stitched together by our ideals, marked by original sins, but redeemed by the courage and sacrifice that saved us from fascism and unleashed freedom and prosperity — the envy of the world. That is the true story we all need to tell, the promise we made to each other that we work every day to keep.”

The reading was followed by an ice cream social, co-hosted by the Greene County Democratic and Republican women’s clubs.

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Missouri

UPDATE: Suspect wanted in Kansas captured near Columbia; Missouri State Highway Patrol aircraft plays key role | 93.9 The Eagle

Published

21 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

UPDATE: Suspect wanted in Kansas captured near Columbia; Missouri State Highway Patrol aircraft plays key role | 93.9 The Eagle

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says one of its planes played a key role in Tuesday morning’s capture on I-70 near Columbia of a Kansas suspect wanted for child endangerment.

Missouri state troopers say they were on patrol near a rest area on eastbound I-70 in Cooper County, when they located a Dodge Durango wanted for an alleged incident in Topeka. Troopers say the suspect drove off after seeing troopers and that the Patrol plane was used to avoid a pursuit.

Troopers say they were able to get in position after the plane’s pilot located the vehicle and that the Patrol deployed stop sticks and safely deflated the suspect’s tires.

hmqqi61wwaa0bs7 — A Missouri State Highway Patrol aircraft played a key role in Tuesday morning’s capture in mid-Missouri (July 2026 graphic courtesy of Highway Patrol Twitter)

The Highway Patrol says the suspect was captured without incident and that the two-year-old child, who was unharmed, has been reunited with their mother.

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