Missouri marks 420 cannabis holiday

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Economy & Business

St. Louis on the Air

Missouri's cannabis industry booms despite recalls and revoked licenses

By Danny Wicentowski

Published April 22, 2025 at 6:38 AM CDT

Bobby 鈥淗omegrown鈥� Thornton smokes a blunt during a 4/20 celebration at Handlebar on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in St. Louis鈥� Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. — Bobby 鈥淗omegrown鈥� Thornton smokes a blunt during a 4/20 celebration at Handlebar in St. Louis鈥� Forest Park Southeast neighborhood on Saturday.

There are two sides to Missouri鈥檚 cannabis industry. Since voters legalized the sale of recreational cannabis to adults in 2023, the industry has generated nearly $1.5 billion in sales and $250 million in sales tax 鈥� a windfall that鈥檚 earmarked to fund programs for veterans, substance abuse treatment and the state鈥檚 chronically underpaid public defenders.

But the industry鈥檚 rapid expansion has come with complications. That includes a pattern of revocations in the state鈥檚 cannabis microbusiness program. Of the 96 licenses issued by the state since 2023, 34 have been revoked by regulators 鈥�

鈥淲hat we're seeing,鈥� said Missouri Independent cannabis industry reporter Rebecca Rivas, 鈥渋s what the state would call alleged predatory practices in the way that people are applying for those鈥� licenses.

The industry鈥檚 growth is also bringing customers to cannabis chefs like Dragon Biscuit鈥檚 Mike Zumwald. On Saturday, Zumwald was one of a dozen chefs to compete in .

鈥淚t's actually a journey of over 20 years,鈥� Zumwald said. 鈥淚 joined NORML in college because I wanted to reform marijuana laws. And once it became legal in Missouri, [I] was like, 鈥楬ey, I'm going to join the cannabis industry.鈥� From there, I learned to grow. From growing, I decided, 鈥楬ey, I know how to cook stuff,鈥� and I found a buddy who was willing to help me live out that dream.鈥�

To hear from other cannabis chefs, as well as insight from Rebecca Rivas into why the state鈥檚 keeps revoking applicants and about her reporting into , listen to St. Louis on the Air on , , or , or click the play button below.

Listen to cannabis chefs and Rebecca Rivas on 'St. Louis on the Air'

See more photos from STL Pot Chef's Ultimate Infused Showdown by 漏 2024 外网天堂 Visuals Editor Brian Munoz:

Dragon Biscuit鈥檚 Mike Zumwalt, of Valley Park, during a 4/20 celebration and cooking competition at Handlebar on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in St. Louis鈥� Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. Zumwalt and his team specialize in making cannabis-infused desserts. — Dragon Biscuit鈥檚 Mike Zumwalt, of Valley Park, poses during a 4/20 celebration and cooking competition at Handlebar on Saturday. Zumwalt and his team specialize in making cannabis-infused desserts.

Witchez Budz鈥檚 Zach Hicks, of O鈥橣allon, Ill., puts the finishing touches on cannabis-infused honey garlic chicken over rice during a 4/20 celebration and cooking competition at Handlebar on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in St. Louis鈥� Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. — Witchez Budz鈥檚 Zach Hicks, of O鈥橣allon, Ill., puts the finishing touches on cannabis-infused honey garlic chicken over rice during a 4/20 celebration and cooking competition at Handlebar on Saturday.

Gateway Grub's Terri Jayne gives out a sample of her cannabis-infused take on a toasted ravioli during a 4/20 celebration at Handlebar on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in St. Louis鈥� Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. — Gateway Grub's Terri Jayne gives a sample of her cannabis-infused take on a toasted ravioli during a 4/20 celebration at Handlebar on Saturday.

Chef Antoine Bailey鈥檚 Sweet and Spicy BBQ Wings sit waiting to be served during a 4/20 celebration at Handlebar on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in St. Louis鈥� Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. — Chef Antoine Bailey鈥檚 Sweet and Spicy BBQ Wings sit, waiting to be served.

Cannabis-infused Lasagna Soup, left, and infused pork steak bites on Saturday, April 19, 2025. — Cannabis-infused lasagna soup, left, and infused pork steak bites, right

Gateway Grub's Terri Jayne puts the finishing touches on samples of her cannabis-infused candied Schezuan pepper eggplant over jasmine rice and cilantro during a 4/20 celebration at Handlebar on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in St. Louis鈥� Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. — Gateway Grub's Terri Jayne puts the finishing touches on samples of her cannabis-infused candied Szechuan pepper eggplant over jasmine rice and cilantro.

Gateway Grub's Terri Jayne gives out samples of her cannabis-infused candied Schezuan pepper eggplant over jasmine rice and cilantro during a 4/20 celebration at Handlebar on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in St. Louis鈥� Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. — Gateway Grub's Terri Jayne gives samples of her cannabis-infused candied Szechuan pepper eggplant over jasmine rice and cilantro.

Chef Antoine Bailey鈥檚 sous-chef Larry Rice prepares an infused berry compote to pour over funnel cake during a 4/20 celebration at Handlebar on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in St. Louis鈥� Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. — Larry Rice, Chef Antoine Bailey鈥檚 sous-chef, prepares an infused berry compote to pour over funnel cake.

Chef Antoine Bailey鈥檚 cannabis-infused braised beef cheeks with a goat cheese polenta and smoked parmesan foam were entered into the ultimate infused showdown and 4/20 celebration at Handlebar on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in St. Louis鈥� Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. — Chef Antoine Bailey鈥檚 cannabis-infused braised beef cheeks with a goat cheese polenta and smoked parmesan foam was entered into the ultimate infused showdown and 4/20 celebration.

Oven Canvas鈥� Alvin Jackson gives out samples of his cannabis-infused gooey butter cake during an 4/20 celebration and cooking competition at Handlebar on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in St. Louis鈥� Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. — Oven Canvas鈥� Alvin Jackson gives samples of his cannabis-infused gooey butter cake during a 4/20 celebration and cooking competition.

Oven Canvas鈥� owner Alvin Jackson鈥檚 cannabis-infused gooey butter cake

Bobby 鈥淗omegrown鈥� Thornton gives his elevator pitch for infused drinks during a 4/20 celebration and food competition at Handlebar on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in St. Louis鈥� Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. — Bobby 鈥淗omegrown鈥� Thornton gives his elevator pitch for infused drinks during a 4/20 food competition.

Various pipes sit out for sale during a 4/20 celebration.

Pot Chef鈥檚 Ultimate Infused Showdown was held at Handlebar on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in St. Louis鈥� Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. — Pot Chef鈥檚 Ultimate Infused Showdown at Handlebar on Saturday

A photo booth awaits visitors during Pot Chef鈥檚 Ultimate Infused Showdown at Handlebar on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in St. Louis鈥� Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. — A photo booth awaits visitors during Pot Chef鈥檚 Ultimate Infused Showdown at Handlebar on Saturday.

鈥�鈥� brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is produced by , , , and . Jada Jones is our production assistant. The audio engineer is . Send questions and comments about this story to talk@stlpr.org.