Legal weed in Missouri? Time is running out for recreational marijuana proposals

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The advocates who successfully campaigned for a constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana in Missouri in 2018 are continuing to push the state toward recreational legalization of cannabis, but sharp disagreements have arisen over fairness in the market.

The House Rules Committee on Tuesday afternoon advanced HB2704, called the Cannabis Freedom Act. It awaits full consideration on the House floor. The bill would legalize recreational adult-use marijuana in Missouri, double the number of license holders statewide and open the door for nonviolent marijuana offenders to petition for expungement.

Meanwhile, an initiative petition process dubbed Legal MO 2022 is circulating across Missouri in an effort to be placed on the November 2022 ballot.

Proponents of the petition say it would open the market quickly to every adult in the state, while opponents worry about ensuring equity as the industry expands.

Missouri’s entrance into the cannabis market has been fraught. The Department of Health and Senior Services, which oversees the state’s medical marijuana market, has been accused of an opaque application process that leaves business owners in the dark about the reasons their applications are denied.

A Missouri commission recently granted a license to a previously denied applicant after DHSS processes were described as giving “intentionally vague guidance.”

Rep. Ashley Bland-Manlove, D-Kansas City, is working closely with Rep. Ron Hicks, R-St. Charles County, HB2704’s sponsor, to fight for what she describes as fair implementation. But she has been discouraged by amendments added to the bill, which she said would fold in language from the initiative petition and undermine some of the original efforts of the bill."...