Gregory J. Holman|Springfield News-Leader
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In early September, the News-Leader visited the sites of all licensed dispensaries in city limits, as listed in state records, and reached out to company representatives of those dispensaries, and some others in southwest Missouri. Here's what they said.
BBMO 2, LLC, 2860 S. Glenstone Ave.
The News-Leader was not successful in reaching this dispensary licensee by phone or email before deadline, though based on state records, a LinkedIn profile and a Los Angeles-area news report, the company appeared to be tied to a University of Missouri graduate involved with a California-based "consumption lounge" operation. A Springfield city spokespersonsaid Aug. 31 that city officials "haven’t heard anything" about that type of business attempting to open in town.
Bloom Medicinals, 751 S. Glenstone Ave.
RJ Starr, head of compliance and human resources, said this location is expected to open by the end of the year. "Planning and construction phases are underway," Starr said.
Cassville Dispensary,460 State Highway 76
Cassville Dispensary completed its commencement inspection last week. It went well, assistant manager Charlea Estes-Jones said theday after thevisit, and Missouri officials requested relatively easy changes, like moving an exterior sign, which staff accomplished on the spot. Estes-Jones expects final approval soon and to open when product is available. She said the dispensary is getting a lot of public attention from people across the state, which she attributed in part to owner Dr. Lisa Roark's involvement in certifying many Missouri patients for cannabis as treatment. Estes-Jones said the dispensary will employ an LPN as a patient education consultant. "Whether a lot or none at all in terms of cannabis experience, we don’t want anybody to be nervous about asking any question," she said.
Easy Mountain Cannabis Company,7827 W. Farm Road 174, Republic
"Insanely supportive" is how co-owner Alex Paulson described Republic residents' feedback for this dispensary, which broke ground in July and expects to be open in December. "We’re not looking to be the very first dispensary to open, but we’re building out the nicest facility in southwest Missouri," he added. Co-owner Drew Beine said the needs of military veteran patients will be important toEasy Mountain once it opens.
Flora Farms, 2126 E. Dale St.
Little evidence of renovations or construction is visible at this industrial site just off Glenstone Avenue, but a company spokespersonsaid Flora Farms has a dispensary location in Neosho that is nearly ready for commencement and opening. It also has a cultivation center and a dispensary in Humansville in development.
Grassroots/Curaleaf,1306 N. Stewart Ave.
On July 23, publicly-traded cannabis behemoth Curaleaf acquired Grassroots, the largest privately-held multi-state cannabis company, which applied for several Missouri licenses last year. It's not clear what will happen to the Springfield dispensary location that Grassroots previously licensed, as Missouri law does not permit anyone with "disqualifying felony offenses"to be amedical marijuana facility shareholder. According to the Missouri health department, technically the law does not eliminate public companies with a large number of shareholders, but any license applicant "must attest" that they comply.Curaleaf declined to comment when the News-Leader reached out Aug. 13. The Massachusetts-based company says on its website that it operates in 23 states, with more than 90 dispensaries and "a focus on highly populated, limited license states, including Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania."
Old Route 66 Wellness, 2823 N. Glenstone Ave.
This location is owned by one of the three companies expected to open dispensaries as soon as Missouri-grown marijuana is legally available, possibly this month.Another store at 1421 W. State Highway J is expected to open in Ozark later this year.
OWG I,2935 E. Chestnut Expressway
Stephanie Montgomery, a principal of this company, declined an interview request last week. "We just aren’t at the stage where we are ready to answer questions," she said in an email. "I can let you know that we will not be open before Dec.1."
Ozarx Botanicals, 3800 W. Sunshine St.
Kim Andrews, a company principal, said this dispensary hopes to apply for commencement by the end of September, with a possible soft opening in November. "We've actually been looking all around the state at several manufacturers focusing on different things," Andrews said.One manufacturer is expected to provide Ozarx Botanicals with products under national cannabis brands, another with "craft-type" products. "We know there's going to be a lot of people who are going to be ready to get in line for those products, and we want to be ready to go."
Revival 98, 2800 block, West Republic Road
The cannabis company tied toformer NFL player Grant Wistrom exercised an option to cancel its contract with the landlord of a large facility on Austin Avenue after it didn't win a cultivation license in January. The reason? It didn't need as much space for dispensary and manufacturing functions alone as that building offered, Wistrom said in an email last week. Dispensary manager Jason Bach said the dispensary instead will be in a building that is a much better fit and is likely to open in early 2021.
Shango, 3903 S. Campbell Ave., 1868 S. Glenstone Ave. and Joplin
Owner Julie Belk said "we're making headway and we're excited," and that locations are expected to be open by Nov. 1. They'll be hiring over the next 60 days and expect supply issues to ease by spring as more facilities come online.
V3 MO Vending 5 LLC, 850 E. Kearney St.
The News-Leader was not successful in reaching this company by deadline.
Gregory Holman is the investigative reporter for the News-Leader. Email news tips to gholman@gannett.com and consider supporting vital local journalism by subscribing. Learn more by visitingNews-Leader.com/subscribe.
