Medical marijuana program yields $6.8M for veterans

September 17, 2021 at 4:05 a.m. | Updated September 17, 2021 at 10:06 a.m.

FILE - In this March 22, 2019 file photo, shows marijuana buds being sorted into a prescription jar at Compassionate Care Foundation's medical marijuana dispensary in Egg Harbor Township, N.J. Voters in four states could embrace broad legal marijuana sales on Election Day, setting the stage for a watershed year for the industry that could snowball into neighboring states as well as reshape policy on Capitol Hill. The Nov. 3, 2020, contests will take place in markedly different regions of the country, New Jersey, Arizona, South Dakota and Montana and approval of the proposals would highlight how public acceptance of cannabis is cutting across geography, demographics and the nation's deep political divide. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
FILE - In this March 22, 2019 file photo, shows marijuana buds being sorted into a prescription jar at Compassionate Care Foundation's medical marijuana dispensary in Egg Harbor Township, N.J. Voters in four states could embrace broad legal marijuana sales on Election Day, setting the stage for a watershed year for the industry that could snowball into neighboring states as well as reshape policy on Capitol Hill. The Nov. 3, 2020, contests will take place in markedly different regions of the country, New Jersey, Arizona, South Dakota and Montana and approval of the proposals would highlight how public acceptance of cannabis is cutting across geography, demographics and the nation's deep political divide. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

The Missouri Veterans Commission received more than $6.8 million Thursday.

The funds, transferred from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, represent the second transfer from the state's medical marijuana program.

Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (know as Article XIV), which created the program, requires fees and taxes the program generates be transferred to the commission to assist with health care services for veterans. DHSS is allowed to retain some money for operation costs.

DHSS announced it transferred $6,843,310 to the commission Thursday. The transfer represented the second since voters passed the amendment in 2018. The first transfer, which totalled $2,135,510, occurred in September 2020.

Medical marijuana is taxed at a 4 percent rate. Since medical marijuana dispensaries began to open in October last year, more than $113 million in sales have occurred.

Paul Kirchhoff, the commission's executive director, said funds are to be used for health and safety initiatives, and to complete the Missouri Veterans Cemetery-Jacksonville columbarium wall.

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