Plus, Travis Kelce named Athlete of the Year.
 
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Today’s Forecast

70º | 6% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:02 a.m. | Sunset 6:01 p.m.
 

🌿 How the reefer is rolled

Meet Franklin’s: KC’s small but mighty marijuana manufacturer
franklin's pre roll party pack sits on a table packaged ready to go.
And we’re rolling on a river. | Photo by KCtoday
Missouri lit up during its first year with legal recreational marijuana — the state raked in ~1.3 billion in 12 short months. But just where do all those grass gummies grow? Who is distributing to the dispensaries? Well, it’s high time you learned.

The cannabis industry is heavily regulated and differs state-to-state. Some states have legalized marijuana, while others have simply decriminalized it.

Local and federal laws make it complicated to transport products across state lines, so dispensaries can’t help but sell home baked goods.

One such local manufacturer is Franklin’s. Editors Charmaine + Madison recently visited its top secret headquarters here in KC for a behind-the-scenes look at how the reefer is rolled.

🛠️ Manufacturing marijuana products

Be buzzed into the unmarked building, take about 100 steps down the hallway, and you’ve arrived at the packing plant (or the plant packing). Here in this modest ~3,000-sqft facility, a small team assembles all of Franklin’s finest finds, like Guy’s Infused Root Beer.

“We just have a manufacturing license so we have to buy bud [mainly from Vivid in Grandview, MO], convert it into a product, and then sell that to dispensaries,” said Michael Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Franklin’s.

KCtoday_Franklin's

Take a peek behind the curtain.

|

Photo via Franklin’s

Franklin’s asserts itself as the largest maker of pre-rolled blunts in the state. It currently delivers to ~75 dispensaries across Missouri which includes everywhere “from St. Joe, to Maryville, to Jeff City.”

While this industry garners many varying opinions, Wilson views Franklin’s as simply another small business start-up that is helping local families achieve their dreams.

“These are all normal people here trying to chase a dream to change our economic station in life, and we see that this is an opportunity to do that.”
Toke a look inside
Events
Wednesday, Feb. 20
  • Elizabeth Layton: Drawing as Discourse | Wednesday, Feb. 21-Sunday, July 28 | Times vary | Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS | Free | View the Kansas native’s inquisitive drawings + lithographs thematically.
  • The Truth about Estate Planning, Trust & Wills | Wednesday, Feb. 21 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, 11902 Lowell Ave., Overland Park, KS | Free | Gain education + resources designed to help you make informed decisions in your golden years.
Thursday, Feb. 21
  • Open Minds Book Discussion: Kindred by Octavia Butler | Thursday, Feb. 22 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Kansas City Museum, 3218 Gladstone Blvd., KCMO | Free | The book follows the time travel story of Dana, a young woman who lives in California in the 1970s and is transported back to the pre-Civil War south.
  • Junie B. Jones | Thursday, Feb. 22-Sunday, Feb. 25 | Times vary | Bell Cultural Arts Center, 2030 E. College Way, Olathe, KS | $16-$20 | It’s Junie B.'s first day of first grade and a lot of things are changing for her in this comedic musical adaptation of the beloved best-selling book series.
Friday, Feb. 22
  • Friday Night Smash | Friday, Feb. 23-Friday, Jan. 16 | Times vary | SERV, 9051 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS | $10 | Sip, snack, and socialize with friends at this 21+ pickleball party.
Saturday, Feb. 23
  • Caffeine and Chrome | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Gateway Classic Cars of Kansas City, 1202 S. Lone Elm Rd., Olathe, KS | Free | Pets and people can cruise by and admire classic cars of all kinds.
  • Teddy Bear Clinic | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Kansas City Zoo, 6800 Zoo Dr., KCMO | $9.50-$22 | Bring your fave fluffy friend and nurses will fix rips, tears, and holes + make sure they’re fit and fluffed.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Active

Get rewarded for working out? Count us in.
3 women stand in warrior pose
There are seven levels of rewards that can be unlocked within the Burn Off Challenge. | Photo provided by HOTWORX
HOTWORX’s Burn Off Challenge works in just four easy steps:
  1. Head to your local HOTWORX + become a member.
  2. Use the HOTWORX Burn Off app to log your workouts across a 90-day period.
  3. Complete challenges + track how many calories you burn.
  4. Get rewarded — the more you burn, the better the prize.
Plus, you can compete against other HOTWORX members. Ready to feel the burn, Kansas City? Become a member.
Find a HOTWORX near you
News Notes
Development
  • Breaker, breaker, 9-1-3. Johnson County Community College broke ground on a $7 million truck driver training facility near W. 191st Street + Waverly Road. The project anticipates a June completion, following which the school will be able to train ~1,000 CDL drivers a year. (Kansas City Business Journal)
Award
  • Raise your glass for Overland Park’s Vintage ’78. With less than a year under its cork, the wine bar secured the coveted Three Star Award. Only 144 restaurants worldwide boast this honor. (Johnson County Post)
Ranked
  • Keep those glasses up. Two metro companies landed on Forbes’ best employers list: Olathe’s Garmin Ltd. ranked No. 2 and the University of Kansas Health Sytem came in at No. 10. Rankings are based on employee surveys.
Sports
  • Okay, just one more toast — Travis Kelce won Athlete of the Year at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards, beating out fellow superstars like LeBron James, Coco Gauff, and Simone Biles. We think Swifties might have lent him a hand. (FOX4)
Legacy
  • Local playwright Nathan Louis Jackson died last year. To honor his legacy, the KC Rep announced a new season which will feature his play, “Broke-ology.” More about the upcoming season. (Kansas City Star)
Eat
  • Jax Fish House + Oyster Bar (4814 Roanoke Pkwy., KCMO) is being replaced with T’aha Mexican Kitchen. The biz plans to open this spring and will offer elevated Mexican food with a Midwestern twist. (Kansas City Business Journal)
 
Cause

❤️ Let’s have a KC heart to heart

KC Strong: How our community has come together
KC Parade of Hearts
Can you feel the love? We sure can. | Photo by KCtoday
There’s a reason one of KC’s symbols is the heart. Following the tragedy at the Super Bowl rally, our community is showing just how #KCStrong we are.

Here are a few highlights:
This is a hard time for our city, and now, more than ever, we need to show up for each other. Please share any other resources you know of.
The Buy

The Buy 2.21.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
A comfy fit to curl up in while it’s still sweatshirt and hoodie season. We love: this pink + lime crop by East of These and this Blue Ridge Parkway sweatshirt from Burlaep.
Share KCtoday
 
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The Wrap
 
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Today’s edition by:
Charmaine
From the editor
I’m so happy it’s finally warming back up. I can’t wait to visit my favorite giant tree and have a picnic in the park.
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