Marijuana legalization promises jobs in Missouri. But how many?

ST. LOUIS - Missouri voters will decide in November whether they want to allow recreational cannabis in the state, an issue that has typically come with promises of leafy, green economic uplift.

If voters legalize pot for recreational use, some local cannabis businesses say their workforce would increase, or even double. And unlike the rest of the economy, still wracked with staffing shortages, it appears there’s a supply of candidates eager to work in the industry.

“We are seeing a huge demand for people who want to work in this space,” said John Pennington, co-founder and CEO of Rock Hill-based retailer and manufacturer Proper Cannabis.