State Cracks Down on Predatory Practices in Missouri Cannabis Microbusiness Program

15 April 2025

Missouri has revoked 25 cannabis microbusiness licenses following a major investigation into violations of rules intended to promote equity in the Missouri’s legal cannabis industry. Regulators say many businesses were controlled by outside investors rather than the disadvantaged individuals the program was designed to support.

The Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) announced the revocations on April 14, 2025, after a six-month probe found widespread misuse of legal structures to obscure true ownership and control. Of the 96 licenses issued since the microbusiness program launched in 2023, 34 have now been revoked—most due to improper ownership arrangements.

---

Revoked Businesses (Alphabetical Order):

• Captured Crescents LLC (MBD000029)

• Clifton Cannabis LLC (MBW000060)

• Cobalt Star Voyager LLC (MBW000041)

• Cut the Grass LLC (MBW000037)

• Divergent Dancers LLC (MBD000041)

• Drama Dunes LLC (MBW000035)

• Farm Fantasies LLC (MBD000030)

• Fallout170 (MBW000040)

• Green Oasis (MBD000026)

• Idyll Zone LLC (MBD000022)

• Individual (MBD000023)

• Individual (MBD000027)

• Individual (MBD000032)

• Individual (MBD000040)

• Individual (MBW000063)

• Individual (MBW000065)

• Infinite Luck LLC (MBW000046)

• Millennium Retail LLC (MBD000020)

• Potent Pals LLC (MBD000034)

• Premium Pack LLC (MBD000024)

• Pure Leaf Labs LLC (MBD000037)

• The Chronic Club LLC (MBD000033)

• Verdant Sun Journey LLC (MBW000039)

• Virgo Vermillo (MBD000031)

• Xylo Gleam LLC (MBD000038)

Key Players and Regulatory Response:

• Investor Involvement: Missouri investor Michael Halow is connected to 16 of the revoked licenses (22 overall). Regulators found contracts transferring control to ineligible entities. Halow maintains he simply helped entrepreneurs lacking resources and says he will appeal.

• Other Investors: Four licenses tied to investors David Brodsky and Scott Wootton were also revoked for misleading information. Three more are still under review.

• Rule Changes Coming: The DCR proposed stricter rules in December 2024 to curb predatory arrangements. The changes are under public review before submission to the Secretary of State.

• Cleared Licenses: Seven licensees who received preliminary revocation notices in 2024 were able to retain their licenses by proving compliance. These include Euphoria Group LLC, Blue Meanies, Andrew Venne, Platinum Craft, Travis Dickens, MicroLegacy, and MB Doinks LLC.

As Missouri’s cannabis market grows, regulators say stronger oversight is needed to keep the microbusiness program true to its mission—empowering those most often left out of economic opportunity.