ST. PETERS, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said to date roughly $27 million of tax money generated from marijuana sales has been allocated to the Missouri Veterans Commission.
That money helps them care for thousands of veterans across the state.
Missouri Veterans Commission Executive Director Paul Kirchhoff said he served in the Army for 33 years and truly understands how important veterans' services are.
“This for me, is continuing that service, that dedication to our nation, to our state and to those that I served with,” Kirchhoff said.
This year, the commission received $13 million from medical marijuana taxes.
Kirchoff said the commission oversees five veterans cemeteries and has officers across the state who help connect veterans to services and care for elderly veterans.
“We'll use the funding that we receive from both the medical and the adult use to run our homes, the seven veterans homes that we have throughout the state. It'll help with their operation. So it goes directly into maintaining our existing operations within those facilities,” Kirchhoff said.
Mint Dispensary in St. Peters is also helping veterans out on the other side of the transaction with a discount offered every day on products they say have changed the lives of local veterans.
“We do 22% off just to bring awareness. Especially since you lose 22 veterans a day from post-traumatic stress disorder. So we decided to shine a light on that the best we can and give our thanks and our gratitude to all the veterans,” Mint Dispensary General Manager Hunter Clasby said.
5 On Your Side’s Laura Barczewski spoke with Navy veteran Mike Roam at the dispensary where he bought cannabis products which he said make a difference for his shoulder pain.
“It does definitely kill the pain. Ever since the opiate epidemic, it's not worth even trying to get pain pills anymore," he said. "So this is a good alternative."
Money is also starting to come in from the recreational side; the Veterans Commission, Public Defenders Office and the Department of Health each received roughly $1.3 million this year.