Missouri is inching closer to launching its first medical cannabis sales as EKG Labs, the state’s first licensed testing facility, is testing cannabis for BeLeaf Medical, the state’s first licensed cultivator, according to St. Louis Public Radio.
BeLeaf co-founder John Curtis told the news outlet that while the initial batch submitted to EKG is not large enough to stock dispensary shelves, he expects to send a second batch for testing and have product ready for sale at BeLeaf’s store within the next couple of weeks.
BeLeaf opened its first cultivation center in Earth City in June, while EKG passed its commencement inspection with the state and received final approval to operate late last month.
Lyndall Fraker, director for the medical cannabis program with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, told St. Louis Public Radio that the department has been working “extremely hard” to complete final inspections on all facilities, and that he expects the majority of the state’s 192 dispensaries to be open by the end of the year.