More Vape and Head Shops Open in Kansas City after Missouri Legalizes Medical Marijuana

Kansas City in Missiouri (KCMO) has witnessed a spread of vape, smoke and head shops in recent months, shortly after residents voted to legalize medical marijuana in November, 2018. While previous studies have linked the number of vape shops in other states with laws allowing medical or recreational use of cannabis, a connection between the two developments – more vape and head shops opening doors in the city and the state legalizing marijuana — needs to be explored, and its consequences examined.

The measure on medical use of medical marijuana permits qualified patients to purchase an amount of marijuana determined by state regulator or grow up to six plants. However, patients in Missouri will wait for another several months before they are actually able to buy marijuana from licensed commissaries, as Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) drafts legislation. Missouri is one of the 33 states to have legalized marijuana.

Of course, vape or head shops in Missouri would not be allowed to sell marijuana but once it becomes legally available, patients would prefer to consume it with a vaping device rather than smoking it, indicates a 2015 Reuters report highlighting the potential for vape shops in USA as more and more states legalize the substance.

The report says marijuana vapor released by heating device is nearly odorless, something impossible with combustible cigarettes. Consequently, it offers more privacy to marijuana users, who want to avoid scandal. So, people after purchasing medical marijuana may head to vape shops to buy a vaping device of their choice.

 “Where to Buy legal vaping devices, Vaporizers and CBD Vape Oil in Kansas City, Missouri“

Missouri DHSS initially plans to issue a total of 338 licenses for marijuana cultivation, processing, and sale. At least 192 dispensaries will be selling it; of which 72 in Kansas City.

How Vape Shops and Head Shops in KCMO operate

Unlike in some of the West Coast states that permit recreational use of marijuana, head shops and vape shops in Kansas City, Mo (#KCMO) are not allowed to sell restricted substance, neither they do. However, some of these facilities, if not all, offer a wide range of vaping devices, including e-mods, pods, e-cigarettes and other vaporizers, as well as, e-liquids or juices, vaping accessories such as cartomizers and atomizers, hookahs or water pipes, and hand pipes.You may purchase tobacco as well.

These shops also sell legal substances like Kratom that serve as painkillers and have identical role to medical marijuana.

So, although you are more likely to be a vaping enthusiast if you regularly visit these shop, they also offer some help for patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, slipped disc and general joint pain.

Rising Demand for CBD and Hemp Oil

Kansas City vape and head shops have already found a connection with cannabis, though completely legal and with no likelihood of leaving people stoned. They have stocked Hemp oil and CBD products that have a common characteristic of being extremely low on THC while acting as pain-relievers or non-medicine opioids.

Hemp Oil and CBD have only traces of THC, the chemical that sets these two products apart from marijuana.While hemp and marijuana both belong to cannabis family of plants, marijuana plants have high content of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), a psychoactive cannabinoid that is responsible for leaving people high. Hemp plantsare less flowery and have extremely low, almost non-existent, THC levels.

Hemp oil and CBD are extracted from different part of hemp plant, that is, seeds and stalks, respectively. Both of them, however, have no intoxicating properties and are safe to use, with CBD having slightly more THC traces than hemp seed oil. Missouri legalized CBD oil in 2014, allowing the department of agriculture to grow hemp for research purposes.

Growing Number of Vape and Head Shops

In recent months, a floodgate of vape shops has opened in Kansas City. Yelp now lists around 150 vape, smoke or head establishments. The number is significantly lower than around 240 of Las Vegas, where recreational use of marijuana is permitted. However, as vaping industry moves on an upward trajectory, more businesses are likely to open in the city.The competition getting tougher augurs well for not only vaping enthusiasts but also for people who want to wane on medicine opioids or want to avoid them.