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Missouri Marijuana Businesses Fined For Bringing Clones Across State Lines In Violation Of Rules

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5 months ago

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“Some licensees believed they were allowed to bring in clones or tissue cultures and seeds on an ongoing basis.”

By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent

At least seven Missouri marijuana growers have been fined in the past year for violating what’s known in the industry as the “immaculate origination rule.”

Marijuana cannot cross state lines because it is still illegal, and state law dictates that all marijuana must be grown within the state.

However, a year passes when a licensee passes an initial inspection when the state essentially turns a blind eye and puts its hands over its ears to how a cultivation facility begins its inventory.

It’s called the clean conception rule, and last year six facilities were fined $500,000 for breaking it.

A spokeswoman for Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulation said regulators “found that some licensees believed they were permitted to bring in clones or tissue cultures as well as seeds on an ongoing basis. However, this practice violates the seed sales tracking regulations.”

To keep up with customer preferences and demand, these companies brought in clones or starter plants and tissue cultures, a form of in vitro propagation, of popular plant varieties from other states.

“In lieu of penalties or other enforcement actions, these violations were settled for amounts ranging from $50,000 to $500,000, depending on the situation,” said Lisa Cox, a spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Health and Aging Services, which oversees the cannabis regulatory division.

Licensees who have seen the largest fines are major players in other states, including the companies behind Good Day Farm and High Profile.

The combined fee for the four cultivation licenses representing Good Day Farm and Codes, shared management, was $347,495. Facilities are located in Columbia, Carrollton and Chaffee.

For High Profile, it was $500,000 at its O’Fallon cultivation facility.

Two smaller growers also saw fines of $20,000 and $50,000.

None of the licensees fined by the state returned The Independent’s request for comment.

‘mother plant’

Missouri cultivation facilities are approved to grow marijuana plants, and the harvest is sent to a manufacturing facility, which is then made into pre-rolls, edibles and other products.

Often, growers will develop a “mother plant” to collect clones or cuttings from the plant and put them in their pots. These are genetically identical to the plant from which they are cut.

But where does the mother plant come from?

In the first year of a facility, “the rules and the law are silent on how that happens,” Cox said.

After that, facilities can apply to the state for permission to bring in seeds for “continuing inventory needs,” or they can obtain clones from other licensed growers located in Missouri.

But the state fined several licensees last year for not following those rules, sending a clear message to all Missouri businesses that they must grow plants from seed or get starter plants from competitors.

Ryan Schepers, St. Louis Community College’s cannabis program professor, said that as a “plant nerd,” he doesn’t think starting from seed is necessarily difficult or a bad thing for industry innovation.

“I think a lot of cultivation centers are set up to take care of plants that are already established, and that would be a bit of a challenge,” he said.

But there’s nothing that “well-versed” plant growers working at the cultivation centers can’t handle, he said. He said the main challenge is the delay in production. It will take about a month to six weeks for a cannabis plant to start getting well established, he said, but they will be “pretty hardy plants.”

“Clones are obviously much easier to deal with,” he said.

But tissue cultures involve a small number of cells to begin with, he said, and that process can take as long as seeds to germinate.

He understands that it is difficult for companies to align the growing season of plants with the need to keep up with trends in other states. If a product sells very well in California, he said, “of course we’ll try to get the same thing in Missouri.”

However, he said the cultivation center can discourage him from trying new things. For the sake of his students, he hopes the emphasis will shift to growth and innovation.

“We at St Louis Community College really emphasize that our students are plant scientists who focus on cannabis,” he said.

Innovation can be difficult when federal and state laws are changing rapidly, he added.

The Independent asked if the state would consider allowing licensees to obtain clones in the future to continue popular varieties.

“The department was looking at the DEA’s guidelines that state that clones are not considered marijuana under federal law because of the low concentrations of Delta 9 (THC),” Cox said.

However, recent changes in federal law “may change the status of seeds and clones,” he said. He was referring to the hemp restrictions that were passed as part of the federal spending package last year and will go into effect in November.

“So the department will have to follow federal guidance,” Cox said, “and interpret how it develops over the next year before making any changes to rules or processes.”

This story was first published by the Missouri Independent.

Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

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GreenTech Amsterdam 2026 in 2026 photos

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11 hours ago

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June 13, 2026

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Well, it’s not 2026 photos, but with around 600 photos, we definitely did our best. For the past two days, the Netherlands has been the place to be for the global greenhouse industry. From Flower Trials for the horticulture sector, company visits to growers and technical suppliers, as well as dinners, get-togethers, drinks, knowledge sessions and much more. And of course with GreenTech Amsterdam.

The event brought together professionals from around the world to connect, network, share knowledge and do business.

Next week, we’ll be sharing more information on market developments, trends, what’s on display, news, business news, innovations and whatever else you can think of, but for now we’ll stick to photo reporting.

Click here for the photo report.

© Arlette Sijmonsma | MMJDaily.com










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Illinois Governor Signs Bill To Double Marijuana Possession Limit, Restrict Hemp THC Products And Reform Rules For Businesses

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11 hours ago

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June 13, 2026

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Illinois’ governor has signed an omnibus cannabis bill into law doubles the amount of marijuana that adults can legally possesssignificantly restricts hemp THC products and makes other changes to the rules under which licensed businesses can operate.

Governor JB Pritzker on Friday gave final approval to the legislation, which cleared the House and Senate about two weeks ago.

As established by law, SB 3222 allows state residents over the age of 21 to possess up to 60 grams of marijuana flower, double the previous law. They can also contain up to 10 grams of concentrated cannabis and infused products with up to 1,000 mg of THC, double the previous limit. Ownership amounts for non-resident adults are also doubled under the bill.

People with past convictions for possession of 60 grams of marijuana will now have the option to have those records expunged; they can double the previous cut, which only those with convictions of up to 30 grams can have the right.

The legislation also recriminalizes hemp THC products with more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container, in line with the federal ban that will take effect in November.

“Rather than allowing an ambiguous market to put people at risk, Illinois is taking steps to protect consumers of all ages, especially children, from misleading packaging and labeling,” Pritzker said in a press release. “This landmark legislation closes the intoxicating cannabis loophole while strengthening equity and oversight and expanding medical access. Illinois is committed to cultivating a cannabis industry that benefits diverse businesses across the state and prioritizes accessibility, and I’m proud to sign this measure into law.”

Among other changes, the bill also allows for drive-thru and curbside pickup at dispensaries, allows them to stay open until 2 a.m., and allows medical cannabis certificates to be issued via telehealth.

The hood limits of craft cannabis growers will be expanded to between 5,000 and 14,000 square meters, and the new the law loosens some security requirements for marijuana companies, and also waives or reduces fees for smaller operators.

In 2019, the Pritzker signed the state’s initial marijuana legalization policy.

While broader restrictions on hemp products take effect in the state on Nov. 12, along with a similar federal move, sales to people under the age of 21 are immediately prohibited,

The legislation allows all marijuana dispensaries to register individually to specifically sell medical cannabis. The list of conditions for medical marijuana is also expanding to include female orgasmic disorder, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and uterine fibroids.

“Illinois has led the nation in building a cannabis industry that prioritizes equity and public safety, and SB 3222 builds on that progress,” Governor Juliana Stratton said. he said. “By protecting young people from intoxicating unregulated hemp products and creating clear standards for the industry, we’re ensuring consumers are safer while maintaining opportunities for diverse businesses and communities across our state.”

Mike Latimer’s photo.

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Shining a spotlight on compliance and innovation at Cannabis Expo Johannesburg 2026

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1 day ago

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June 12, 2026

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On May 29, 2026, global cannabis technology company CannBro was invited to the Cannabis Expo in Johannesburg to share insights on emerging cannabis-related medical applications and supply chain strategies in the cannabis markets.

At the event, CannBro highlighted its partnership with the CHEEBA Cannabis Academy to promote industry education, compliance awareness and the development of regulatory standards in emerging cannabis markets. The company highlighted the importance of establishing strong regulatory and compliance frameworks for the sustainable growth of the industry.

© CannBro

As a company certified with ISO 13485 and GMP, CannBro actively explores medical cannabis applications and collaborates with health organizations to discuss potential clinical research and CBD product applications.

© CannBro

CannBro also introduced the “Factory Pricing + Local Stock” strategy, combining manufacturing capabilities in China with warehouses located overseas, enabling efficient delivery of local inventory. The company currently operates warehouses in the United States, Canada, Germany and South Africa and has helped more than 150 customers with local stock delivery solutions that reduce costs and improve inventory turnover.

In addition, CannBro visited local cannabis cultivation facilities to learn about the evolution of the South African market and explore potential partnerships for cultivation, medical applications and product development.

© CannBro

Andy Zhao, CEO of CannBro, said: “As the global cannabis market matures, fulfillment and medical applications will become key drivers of sustainable growth. CannBro remains committed to advancing the industry through education, medical research and supply chain innovation.”

For more information:
CannBro Technology
Email: (email protected)
www.cannbro.com



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