Local woman working to make Missouri’s medical marijuana industry more accessible

KANSAS CITY, MO. – A Missouri woman is working to make medical marijuana licenses more accessible to everyone.

Missouri voters legalized medical marijuana back in 2018. Since then, the state has issued hundreds of licenses to operate cultivation houses, test and production facilities, and pharmacies.

Running any of these businesses requires knowledge of the field, regulations, and lots of cash.

Marne Madison is the president of the Missouri Minority Chapter on Medical Marijuana. Through her company Fleur Verte Home Health Services, she offers courses to break down the rules and costs of running a home as a nurse and a patient.

“We have created a platform and infrastructure to educate and cultivate patients into domestic cultivators, breeders, and caregivers across the industry,” said Madison.

Madison hopes to target minorities who are hesitant or confused about how to get into the industry.

“As we are some of the first to be jailed for apparently drug trafficking on cannabis, it is important to restore confidence in the black community and show us how to make money from cannabis,” Madison said.

The American Civil Liberties Union says blacks and whites use marijuana at similar rates, but blacks are more than three times more likely to be arrested for possession. Natasha Scruggs, Defense Attorney at Scruggs Law Firmsaid the laws can be confused with so many gray areas.

“It could be seen as confusing with so many different layers because we are dealing with federal laws that still criminalize marijuana and then state laws that say medical marijuana is legalized in certain aspects,” Scruggs said.

The Missouri Health Department informed FOX4 that it is not collecting demographics for those licensed to grow medical marijuana. Scruggs believes the state should keep this data to promote racial justice.

“If they don’t track the people who get the licenses, racial differences go unnoticed,” Scruggs said.

With a 4-hour $ 100 course, Madison aims to help improve the playing field.

“It’s important to have a point of sale so we know these home cultivators have gone through the steps,” Madison said. “So they are legally compliant and they are confident and grow drugs for patients.”

Classes start next month. You can learn more about that Fleur Verte website.