New dispensary expected to give economic boost to Missouri county

DUNKLIN COUNTY, Mo. (KAIT) – Dunklin County has seen an economic boost from marijuana sales, and it may be bigger in 2024.

CODES Cannabis Dispensary recently opened its doors in Cardwell.

According to the Division of Cannabis Regulation, the state of Missouri surpassed $1 billion in sales in 2023.

“We have seen positive growth from the marijuana dispensaries in Dunklin County,” said Melissa Combs, Director of Economic Development in Dunklin County.

Good Day Farm was the sole dispensary in Dunklin County until CODES opened.

Combs said there’s no worry about competition between the dispensaries.

“We do not see the Cardwell store as a competitor to the Kennett store, we see it as an enhancer to the community,” she said.

Combs said over 200,000 people live within 60 miles of the county’s center.

She said the potential boost in revenue from the sale of cannabis isn’t the only way the county or the city of Cardwell will see economic growth.

“They’re not only shopping at the dispensary. A lot of times they’re buying gasoline or visiting our local restaurants so we’re seeing more of an impact from those stores than just the physical stores themselves,” she said.

Dunklin County currently does not collect a special sales tax on marijuana, but that could be changing in the coming months.

“Dunklin County voters will each vote on a three percent sales tax on their April ballots,” she said.

If passed, Combs said the city of Kennett anticipates a potential tax collection of $30,000 a month if the tax is passed.

With a new dispensary now open, Combs said they’re ready to reach new customers.

“We recognize that we are receiving out-of-city and out-of-state visitors for those, and we are welcoming them here,” she said.

Voters will head to the polls to vote on that special sales tax on April 2.

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