Jefferson City, MO: Secretary of State John Ashcroft issued a certificate of sufficiency to the Legal Missouri 2022 campaign, formally placing the adult-use legalization initiative on the November ballot. Missouri voters will join voters in Maryland and South Dakota, where similar adult-use measures will appear on the ballot.
“Recent polling reveals that a majority of Missouri residents are ready and eager to end their state’s failed marijuana prohibition,” NORML’s Executive Director Erik Altieri said.“That is because Missourans, like the overwhelming majority of all Americans, recognize that prohibition is a disastrous and draconian practice best cast into the waste bin of history. Voters in the Show Me State want a sensible policy of legalization and regulation, and that is why we expect that they will overwhelmingly vote ‘yes’ on this initiative this fall.”
Missouri’s proposed measure would allow adults to possess (up to three ounces), purchase (from licensed retailers), and home cultivate (up to six flowering plants, six immature plants, and six clones) limited quantities of cannabis. It also establishes a program to automatically review and expunge those with criminal records for non-violent marijuana-related marijuana offenses.
Missouri NORML Coordinator and Legal MO ’22 Advisory Board Chair Dan Viets said, “NORML’s Chapter leaders in Missouri played a major role in writing this initiative so that cannabis consumers’ interests are protected.”
Adult-use legalization measures have already qualified for the 2022 ballot in Maryland and in South Dakota. In addition, signatures in support of separate state efforts have been turned in and are awaiting verification in Nebraska (medical only), North Dakota, and Oklahoma. Activists in Arkansas had turned in the required number of signatures to qualify legalization in their state, but election officials challenged the measure’s title. Campaign advocates are appealing that decision.
In May, Legal Missouri 2022 reported that they had turned in over 385,000 signatures — more than double the total (171,592) necessary to place the proposed measure on the ballot. However, because the proposed measure is a constitutional amendment, advocates were required to obtain a set percentage of signatures (eight percent) from six of the state’s eight congressional districts. Election officials initially believed the campaign had come up just short in a couple of those districts, but the final review determined that the campaign had turned in sufficient signatures for ballot placement.
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NORML advocates for changes in public policy so that the responsible possession and use of marijuana by adults is no longer subject to criminal penalties. NORML further advocates for a regulated commercial cannabis market so that activities involving the for-profit production and retail sale of cannabis and cannabis products are safe, transparent, consumer-friendly, and are subject to state and/or local licensure. Finally, NORML advocates for additional changes in legal and regulatory policies so that those who use marijuana responsibly no longer face either social stigma or workplace discrimination, and so that those with past criminal records for marijuana-related violations have the opportunity to have their records automatically expunged.
Find out more at norml.org and read our Fact Sheets on the most common misconceptions and myths regarding reform efforts around the country
Source: NORML emailed press release