816 Dispensary opens as Missouri’s first microbusiness dispensary

PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) -- One business in Platte City proudly calls itself Missouri's first microbusiness dispensary.

Located at 2701 Running Horse Road, 816 Dispensary opened in June and is owned by Jimi Poe.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, a microbusiness is a marijuana facility license issued only to eligible individuals and entities.

Since opening, Poe’s dispensary has been recognized by the DHHS “Verified Dispensary: We’re on the List” initiative.

The initiative provides resources to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions, including a state-issued decal linked to an interactive dispensary map and guidance on identifying regulated cannabis products.

Poe said it feels great to be the first microbusiness in Missouri.

“It was one of the goals I had at the very beginning when I won the license. I wanted to be the first one to open, and I wanted to be the first one to see the micro business product," Poe said.

Poe was awarded his dispensary license after the first round of applications. He said it felt unbelievable to win the award in the first round.

“The Missouri lottery system does that drawing, and I didn't think I was lucky enough to win one," he said. "Yeah, it feels great."

Poe said the steps to getting to this point in life didn't come without any troubles along the way.

At 20 years old, Poe said one of his friends set him up to sell cannabis to an undercover cop, in which he spent 14 months in prison.

Poe was able to get his cannabis conviction expunged from his record. In doing so, he said it feels great not to have that cloud over his head.

"I just started talking about it; actually gave me the opportunity to win the dispensary. It was one of the criteria to be able to apply," he said. "I'm glad not to have that anymore. It was a long and hard process on trying to get where I wanted to go just because I had that hanging over me."

Despite the incident, Poe said he's happy being able to do what he loves. Especially seeing his hard work come full circle.

“When I got busted, and my wife was my girlfriend at the time, we just started dating. I knew I was about to do this time. I remember telling her, you know, 'Hey, do this bit with me, I promise I never sell weed again'," he said. "I didn't sell weed until I won the license. Here I am selling cannabis again."

Poe said the biggest challenges he's faced since opening his business are customers not knowing it's micro, and keeping enough supply.

"They don't know the difference between us as a micro and the other dispensaries and wholesalers throughout the whole state. They'll bring in product and be like, 'Hey, I want to buy this again.' I'm sorry, we don't carry that product. Then, just not having supply," he said. "Just being the first one open, I open the door with strains of cannabis, and we ran pretty much all of 20, 25 with, like, six to ten and four or five pre-rolls. I'm just now starting to get manufactured product in."

When deciding the name of his business, 816 Dispensary, the idea was to put emphasis on the area code residents love so much.

"I wanted to build a brand. With 816 Dispensary, I feel like people that live within this area code can relate to it. People already have tattoos, with 816 already on them," he said. "I felt like it was a brand that I could build from."

Since opening his business, Poe said he's seen a good number of customers. Especially those who appreciate not having to drive too far out of the area.

"They don't have to drive to North Kansas City anymore or up to St. Joe. Everything has been really good. Overall, I think, everybody is really like that were here," he said.

Poe said the biggest thing is when something happens to somebody that takes them down, people always get second chances.

As a big believer in second chances, Poe said he's looking to grow and better himself, his family and his business.

"It kind of relies on you, what you do with that second chance. How you can take it to the next level. I think I've done that with my life," Poe said. "I'm hoping people can kind of see what I've done and try to work towards trying to better themselves, because that's what I've done in the last 20 years."

Poe runs the business with his family. They held their Grand Opening on Aug. 16 in honor of 816 Day- an annual celebration and proclamation given by former Kansas City Mayor Sly James in 2018.