Citizens in Missouri, despite a legalization bill being pushed forward in their state house, have moved ahead and submitted signatures on ballot initiatives to let them decide on the topic in November...
Despite moves by politicians to take the decision out of the hands of voters, groups in Missouri have moved to place a question about the legalization of medicinal cannabis onto the ballot this upcoming election. Both of the two potential referendums would grant patients with specific ailments like cancer, HIV, and epilepsy access to medicinal cannabis. The differences between the two potential referendum questions are mostly about regulation and taxation.
As noted in the piece linked below, one of the organizations pushing a referendum, New Approach Missouri, "has a specific emphasis on veterans. Post-traumatic stress disorder is one of the conditions that would qualify for medical marijuana under its proposal, and a 4 percent sales tax would be funneled into a newly-created veterans fund to help cover health care costs. 'For veterans, it's really a win-win proposition,' said Jack Cardetti, the group's spokesman."
The steps being taken in Missouri are particularly notable because, as residents push for cannabis legalization, politicians are trying to remove the possibility of voter-established change. Only weeks ago, politicians pushed a bill on the legalization of cannabis with the sponsor stating, “If we don’t take action… voters of this state may very well take the decision out of the hands of the politicians and put it in the hands of the voters.”
Patients, families, and friends are behind these attempts to legalize medicinal cannabis. They know that it is a safe, non-addictive, and natural substance which can be used in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases and ailments. The dedication of Missouri’s citizens in their attempts to push for legalization is commendable and, whether it be due to their efforts or through legislation passed by politicians, it appears that medicinal cannabis may soon be available to patients in yet another state.
Link to the St. Louis Post Dispatch article on the move
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