Cannabis activists lined up Tuesday to urge Missouri lawmakers to move quickly to fully legalize marijuana and derail a competing ballot initiative backed by existing medical marijuana businesses.
The Cannabis Freedom Act, sponsored by Rep. Ron Hicks, R-Defiance, combines numerous marijuana-related bills into one but at its core legalizes possession and use of the drug for individuals 21 and older.
Supporters said Missouri lawmakers should blunt momentum for Legal Missouri 2022, a campaign currently collecting signatures for the Nov. 8 ballot. That plan would give current medical marijuana businesses the first shot at full recreational sales and keep in place the state’s ability to limit licenses.
Hicks, during a hearing of the House Public Safety Committee, cast his bill as the last best shot for lawmakers to weigh in on the topic before voters do so through a proposed change to the state constitution. Medical marijuana was approved in 2018 when Missouri voters approved a constitutional change.
“I’m sure that every single one of you sitting here has received some type of an email,” Hicks said, “or has heard from somebody in this state about the rollout of that program, whether it was dishonest or not fair to someone.”
Hicks’ proposal doesn’t limit marijuana business licenses. It would allow home cultivators to possess up to 12 flowering plants and would permit dispensary sales to be taxed at up to 12%.
It eliminates civil asset forfeiture for marijuana and places regulation of the adult-use program under the control of the “Cannabis Enforcement Authority,” which would be housed in the Department of Agriculture.
The medical program is currently under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health and Senior Services, and Hicks’ bill doesn’t seek to alter the constitutionally approved system.
Hicks’ plan directs tax revenue to fund teacher salaries, first responder pensions and the Missouri Veterans Commission.
He said he was open to amendments. One possible change, Hicks said, involves some sort of license cap after speaking with a “young man” who was part of the industry. The business owner said the market already has enough marijuana, Hicks said.
“He would like to see that they get first dibs, maybe up front — in front of the line,” Hicks said.
“I can understand why they want that and I can actually even — I’m in talks with that.”
Speakers Tuesday morning railed against Legal Missouri 2022.
“This initiative (Legal Missouri 2022) eliminates nearly all competition through constitutionally protected license caps,” said Christina Thompson, with ShowMe Canna-Freedom, who spoke in favor of Hicks’ proposal.
“Recreational licenses created under the initiative will go straight to established businesses as well, meaning instead of opening up more business opportunities for others, money only goes to those who are already profiting.
“The lack of competition and artificially inflated prices fuel the black market,” she said.
“Millions in lost revenue for our state is instead funding drug cartels, human trafficking and more while desperate patients are victimized.”
Adela Wisdom criticized the state’s current prohibition on adult-use cannabis.
Wisdom is facing criminal charges after she and her husband, Aaron, were arrested in 2020…
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