Dispensary to open this weekend in Springfield Plaza

A medical marijuana dispensary operated by Ozarx Botanicals I LLC is slated to open this weekend in west Springfield.

Tomorrow is the grand opening for the shop, according to a news release. The 2,500-square-foot store is located at 3800 W. Sunshine St., Ste. 100, in James River Plaza, said Kim Andrews, general manager and investor with Ozarx Botanicals.

Andrews declined to disclose financial lease terms with Rankin Development LLC. She said Ozarx Botanicals signed a lease through 2026 with an option to renew. Andrews, who previously indicated Stinson Building Co. was working on the infill, also declined to disclose startup costs for the 12-employee shop.

The opening comes amid a shortage in product from cultivators in the state, industry officials have said.

Andrews acknowledged the supply-chain issues but said they will be short-term challenges.

"We have secured flower and edibles – not as much as we would like, but hopefully more will start to be available soon," she said via email, noting cannabis flower would become available next week. "By the end of second quarter, there will be several more cultivators and manufacturers in production, and I think supply will be much more plentiful."

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has approved three medical marijuana manufacturing licenses to entities in Springfield – Beta Fusion Extracts LLC, Happy Days LLC and Revival 98 LLC – but none has yet been given the green light to operate. According to the latest Health Department data posted this morning, only four manufacturers throughout Missouri have received and passed state inspections for production.

There are no cultivator licenses issued within Springfield, but there are three in Humansville, two in Joplin and one each in Cassville and Waynesville. According to state data, 15 cultivators were approved to operate in Missouri as of Jan. 19.

Ozarx Botanicals was approved last year for a single medical marijuana dispensary in southwest Missouri, according to past reporting. The company recently received the final green light from the state, according to the release.

It’s the second dispensary in Springfield approved to operate, according to the state’s interactive map of medical marijuana facilities.

The first, Old Route 66 Wellness, opened in November on North Glenstone Avenue. Flora Farms, which launched a dispensary in Humansville last weekend, is planning to open a Springfield store near old Route 66 in February, according to past reporting.