It’s been one month since Missouri legalized recreational weed. Here’s how it’s going

It’s been one month since Missouri began approving licenses for dispensaries to sell recreational marijuana Feb. 3. In less than 30 days, Missouri’s nearly 200 dispensaries made about $103 million in weed sales – nearly $72 million of that came from recreational sales.

According to Andrew Mullins, executive director of the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association (MOCann), Missouri has already outpaced Illinois in adult-use sales. The state is the only one bordering Missouri that also has recreational use. The first month of adult-use cannabis sales in Illinois generated about $39 million – about $33 million less than Missouri’s first month.

“That’s more than double what Illinois did in a state with twice the population,” Mullins said. “So it really shows the interest and excitement for the new adult-use industry in Missouri.”

If sales continue the way they did in February, Mullins says the industry could top $1 billion in revenue this year.

A booming tourism industry dedicated to marijuana

Mullins believes part of those sales come from “canna-tourism” – people coming from surrounding states to purchase legal weed that is oftentimes cheaper than in their home state.

All of the states that border Missouri, with the exception of Illinois, do not allow recreational weed use. Those laws, plus Missouri’s relatively low taxes on the product, have made customers come in from out of state to purchase cannabis.

[Read more at KCUR]