Accounting

The Missouri Cannabis Inventory Accounting Guide

Because 280E leaves only cost of goods sold intact, inventory accounting is where the federal tax outcome is decided. This guide covers how to build an inventory position that is both useful for management and defensible on examination.

Pick a costing method and hold it

Weighted average and specific identification both work for Missouri operators. Consistency and documentation matter far more than the selection itself, and unsupported mid-stream changes look like result-shopping.

Know which capitalization rules apply

Section 471 sets the baseline and Section 263A adds requirements for producers. License type determines the ceiling, so the reseller versus producer analysis is the first step in every inventory review.

  • Resellers: invoice cost, inbound freight, permitted acquisition cost
  • Producers: direct materials, direct labor, allocable indirect production cost
  • Never inventoriable: selling, advertising, customer delivery, corporate administration

Perpetual inventory tied to track-and-trace

The financial subledger and the Metrc record describe the same physical product. Reconcile them on a defined cadence with thresholds and an investigation protocol, and support every adjusting entry with the underlying track-and-trace event.

Period-end valuation

Revalue inventory at period end, review aging, and test for write-downs where market pricing has moved below cost. In a Missouri wholesale market that has repriced significantly, that test is a real exercise rather than a formality.

The documentation package

Keep the written costing methodology, allocation support, production and receiving records, count sheets, reconciliation workpapers and adjustment approvals together. That package is what turns an inventory number into a defensible position.

Frequently asked questions

How often should inventory be physically counted?

Cycle counts weekly on fast-moving items, with a full physical count at least quarterly and monthly reconciliation to Metrc in between.

Can inventory methodology be changed?

Yes, but the change should be supported by a business reason, documented, and applied prospectively with the appropriate procedural steps.

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