YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
Last edited 2:02 p.m., Jan. 10, 2020
Editor's note: The original story said at least three local applicants were approved, but one applicant has since said he misread the state's email correspondence. Beta Fusion Extracts LLC was denied a license.
At least two medical marijuana entrepreneurial groups received word today they were approved for an infused-product manufacturing facility in Springfield.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services began awarding its selections this morning for the 86 medical marijuana infused-product manufacturer facility licenses available across the state. Sixteen applications were submitted from the Springfield area, including one from Nixa.
The two Springfield operations confirmed this morning are:
• Paula Givens and Pedro Sotomayor, Happy Days LLC; and
• Grant Wistrom, Revival 98 LLC.
Infused-product manufacturers infuse marijuana or marijuana extract into edible products, tinctures, ointments and concentrates, according to a news release from the state department.
Wistrom, a former NFL player, said he received an infused-product license from the state but was not able to provide further information by deadline. He’s planning the facility at 2860 S. Austin Ave., according to state documents. Wistrom also applied for a dispensary license, which will be announced Jan. 24, and a cultivation license, which was denied on Dec. 26.
Givens and Sotomayor, co-owners of Happy Days, said they were among those awarded an infused-product manufacturing license in Springfield. Givens and Sotomayor co-own an Oklahoma medical marijuana dispensary called ElectraLeaf. Givens also co-owns manufacturing and cultivation facilities in Oklahoma, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.
“I think it helps that we have experience in the industry,” Givens said. “We’re going to introduce the Springfield community to how lawful cannabis businesses can integrate into their business community.”
Givens and Sotomayor plan to open Happy Days at 2900 E. Pythian St. with an investment of at least $1 million, according to past SBJ reporting.
Givens said they won’t be able to start manufacturing products until cultivators have grown the source material. Sotomayor said he anticipates the company will be manufacturing concentrates and edibles by Nov. 1.
Desmond Morris, owner of Wholesome Extracts LLC, said his infused-product manufacturing facility application was denied, which follows the rejection of a cultivation license for his Wholesome Bud Co. LLC business.
Morris initially was planning a vertically integrated company, according to past SBJ reporting, but there’s still a chance for Morris to get in the medical marijuana game with dispensary licenses slated to be announced Jan. 24.
“We’re going to see what happens with the dispensary and take time after that to decide what to do next,” Morris said. “It’s not looking good for us. … The dispensary licenses will probably be scored the same way.”
Owners of Beta Fusion Extracts LLC, Nixon M LLC, Mo Manufactured Products LLC, Rehab One LLC, Rehab Two LLC and Rehab Three LLC also said their applications were denied a license.
Local groups that could not be reached by deadline are:
• 1140 N. Eldon MIP LLC, Springfield;
• Ascend Missouri LLC, Springfield;
• Genius Missouri Corp., Springfield;
• MOAF Inc., Springfield;
• Ozark Mountain Extraction Co. LLC, Springfield;
• Ozarx Brands LLC, Springfield; and
• Sho Me Genetics LLC, Nixa.
The state Health Department had not announced the statewide infused-product manufacturer selections as of noon.
Other groups that applied in southwest Missouri include:
• RSM-1 LLC, Branson;
• Table Rock MIP LLC, Branson West;
• G4 Enterprises LLC, Hollister;
• Paradigm Missouri LLC, Hollister;
• Stone County Labs LLC, Lampe;
• GLK LLC, Ridgedale; and
• Ozark Mountain Green LLC, Shell Knob.
The department will continue dishing out around 350 licenses for medical marijuana facility bids through Jan. 31.
Missouri State University’s science building, built in 1971 and formerly called Temple Hall, is being reconstructed and updated.
