In a move to align with nearby areas, St. Louis city dispensaries will extend their closing times from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., following a decision by the Board of Aldermen. This adjustment brings city dispensary hours in line with those in St. Louis County and reduces the disparity with Illinois dispensaries, which can operate until midnight, according to St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Board approved this change on Friday, a decision expected to benefit consumers and boost the city’s finances through increased tax revenue from cannabis sales.
The legislative effort, led by 14th Ward Alderman Rasheen Aldridge, highlighted economic incentives as a key reason for the change. Budget Director Paul Payne noted that the city's financial forecasts are limited under the current hours, anticipating revenue of only $2.4 million, Aldridge asserted that "Budget Director Paul Payne says we’re expected to bring in just $2.4 million at our current operations," and he contended "I think this would be a good way to bring in revenue," as St. Louis Public Radio reported. Observers pointed out that the extension comes in response to concerns raised by local communities, including constituents from Lift for Life Academy in Soulard, who protested the opening of a dispensary near their facility earlier this year.
Amid the change in operational hours for dispensaries, residential apprehensions remain. After the establishment of Kind Goods in the place of a former Jimmy Johns, Marshall Cohen from Lift for Life Academy articulated his concession to the storefront’s presence but is currently advocating against its proposed drive-thru feature, "It's here and it is what it is," Cohen stated in an interview with KDSK.
While the Board’s decision does not change any existing regulations for dispensaries, such as zoning or on-site security requirements, it represents a concession to local business interests and aims to expand the tax base. Aldermen believe this move will make St. Louis more competitive with neighboring areas.
