The price of medical marijuana products in Missouri has been dropping significantly as more dispensaries, manufacturers, and cultivators open around the state. Now, qualifying patients in Missouri are paying as little as $40 for medical marijuana.
Residents voted in 2018 to legalize medical cannabis. Since then, the state has licensed 193 dispensaries, 59 cultivators and 86 manufacturers, although not all of them are operating yet, the Kansas City Star reported.
When the first dispensary in the Kansas City area opened in October, one-eighth of an ounce of flower cost $60. Nearly 10 months later, the same product is sold for $40. Local dispensaries at first sold only flower. Now, they stock a variety of items, including edibles and cartridges.
“Certainly, we knew when stores opened here at the very beginning the prices were going to be higher, the selection was going to be more limited,” said Jack Cardetti, spokesman for the Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association. “But with each coming week, we see those trends reversing.”
More efficient processes, more cultivators and more competition have all contributed to lower prices since the first manufacturer opened in Missouri.
Prices on some products are estimated to be 25% lower than when dispensaries first opened, said Bethanie White, director of marketing for Clovr, the first manufacturer to open in Missouri.
In a 2018 survey conducted by Americans for Safe Access, a marijuana advocacy group, over 25% of respondents said they often forgo medical cannabis treatment because of the expense. At that time, Americans were paying anywhere between $50 to $1,500 per week for medical marijuana.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.