Push for legal marijuana in Missouri raises questions about future market, prices

With Missouri voters weighing legalization of recreational marijuana this fall, critics are raising questions about how the market will be structured — and the likely dollars-and-cents impact on consumers.

The petition has faced blowback from some who say the Legal Missouri campaign — primarily funded by current medical marijuana companies — gifts control of the fully legal market to that same group of entrepreneurs.

One Missouri industry insider predicted in June that changes to the market post-legalization would likely anger medical marijuana patients, who could face higher prices.

“What’s going to happen is the patients are all going to be really pissed because all of a sudden the prices are going to go up once supply and demand catches up,” said John Mueller, co-founder of Greenlight, which operates 15 dispensaries in Missouri. “That’s basically how it will probably transpire.”