The campaign to legalize cannabis for adult use in Missouri has submitted 385,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office to put the issue to voters in November, FOX 2 Now reports. The total, which still needs to be validated, far exceeds the 170,000 required to put the issue to voters.
In a press release, John Payne, the campaign manager for Legal Missouri, said the “widespread and enthusiastic show of support from the people of Missouri” exceeded the organization’s expectations.
“We look forward to the timely review and certification of our petition by the Secretary of State’s Office as we continue to educate and inform voters in the coming weeks and months.” – Payne in a statement via FOX 2 Now
The proposal, a constitutional amendment, would allow Missourians over the age of 21 to possess, consume, purchase, and cultivate cannabis. The measure would impose a 6% sales tax which would generate an estimated $40.8 million which would be used for expungement costs, veterans’ services, drug addiction treatment, and the public defender system, the report says. The amendment includes automatic expungement provisions, which the reports say is the first of its kind.
Missouri voters approved a medical cannabis constitutional amendment in 2018 and the sector generated $200 million in sales during the program’s first 14 months.
An adult-use legalization measure was introduced during this year’s legislative session and was approved by the House Rules and Legislative Oversight Committee on April 21 but has not been considered by the full chamber.
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