Missouri sold $1.5 billion worth of cannabis in 2025

The Missouri, this state of 6 million inhabitants, has sold for 1.5 billion dollars of legal cannabis in 2025, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). This represents an increase of 4 % over 2024 and confirms the state's steady growth since the launch of adult sales in February 2023.

Of the $1.5 billion generated last year, approximately 1.3 billion came from recreational cannabis sales. Visit Missouri voters approve legalization of recreational use in November 2022, and retail sales began a few months later.

Since the first legal sales in October 2020 in the medical field, Missouri is expected to surpass 5 billion in total legal cannabis sales in early 2026, a symbolic milestone that also reflects the program's rapid expansion.

Today, the state has issued nearly 400 licenses for cultivation, manufacturing and retailing. More than 193 licensed dispensaries operate throughout the state, forming the backbone of a vertically integrated, strictly regulated market. Eventually, regulators are also expected to authorize 144 micro-business licenses designed to support disadvantaged entrepreneurs.

Tax revenues from cannabis exceeded forecasts by 600 %

Beyond the retail sales figures, the most striking change in 2025 could be the scale of the tax revenues from cannabis. Missouri collected 255.57 million of tax revenue last year alone, six times more than the State's initial forecasts.

When the legalization of recreational use was passed, the state Auditor General's office had projected annual revenues of $40.8 million for the state and $13.8 million for local communities. The results for 2025 far exceeded these forecasts.

Of the $255.57 million raised :

• 151.72 million went to the state government
• 103.84 million were distributed to local authorities hosting approved dispensaries

Since October 2020, total cannabis-related tax revenues have reached approximately 750 million dollars.

Andrew Mullins, Executive Director of Missouri Cannabis Trade Association (MoCannTrade), presented these figures as proof of the impact of the regulated system:

«By purchasing from a legal, regulated dispensary, Missouri residents help generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each year, which supports local communities, veterans and helps balance the state budget.»

He also emphasized the state-based production model:

«100 % of the cannabis sold in Missouri dispensaries is grown right here in Missouri, generating record sales, creating thousands of jobs and bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue that funds critical programs.»

Veterans appear to be one of the main beneficiaries

In Missouri, cannabis revenues play a major role in funding veterans' services. According to MoCannTrade Missouri Veterans Commission received 105.57 million for veterans' healthcare since the program's launch in 2020, making it one of the main direct beneficiaries of cannabis-generated revenues.

The allocation model has been integrated into the state's legalization framework, earmarking funds not only for veterans' services, but also for community programs and local government budgets.

In a broader fiscal context, the scale of revenue generated by cannabis has positioned the sector as a significant contributor to Missouri's public finances, not only through sales taxes, but also through license fees and payroll taxes paid by operators throughout the supply chain.