For the first time in Missouri, medical cannabis sales topped $20 million in July. The $21.03 million in sales last month brings the total amount purchased by medical cannabis patients in Missouri to $91.36 million in well under a year.

July also brought a rash of new marijuana facility openings. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has to date approved the opening of 135 dispensaries, 36 infused product manufacturers, and 26 marijuana cultivation facilities, with more coming online each week.

As a result, recent news reports indicate that prices for Missouri patients are declining, while product selection and availability increase. DHSS has licensed and certified a total of 379 facilities to cultivate, manufacture, test, transport, and dispense medical marijuana to Missouri patients.

“We see increasing patient numbers every week,” said Corey Martin, HR Director for KC Cannabis Company. “The growth of the total patient population in the state has jumped up to about a couple thousand per week.”

Martin attributes the rapid growth to education by the medical marijuana and easier access for patients. He’s seen an increase in patients in the Kearney dispensary as well.

“When I look at our patient database in Kearney, we have seen very strong patient increases there,” Martin said. “One of the things I’ve noticed in the Kearney dispensary is a lot of people have come in just for education about how the program works. I’ve been surprised how many people have come in to ask those questions.”

Missouri also continues to see consistent increases in medical marijuana patient enrollment, with roughly 135,000 Missouri patients and caregivers now licensed by the state.

Under Article IX of the state Constitution, Missouri residents with cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, and 20 other qualifying conditions can purchase or cultivate medical cannabis with a physician’s certification. The law also provides physicians with the discretion to certify patients who have other chronic and debilitating medical conditions that could benefit from medical marijuana, and legally protects their right to have such conversations.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story