With Wednesday being the last day to register to vote, here is a look at the three initiatives for medical cannabis. The potential legalization of medical marijuana in Missouri comes in the form of three options on ballots in November.
Voters now have less than a month to educate themselves on the differences between the three measures. Missouri could become the 31st state to allow medical marijuana.
For Missouri Medical Marijuana measures, it was a fierce summer in the courtroom. Dr. Brad Bradshaw who backs Amendment 3, sued to have the other two initiatives thrown off the ballot, challenging the validity of their petition signatures.
Bradshaw’s attempt to become the state’s only choice failed, as the lawsuit was dismissed at multiple levels. Here are the three measures that voters will decide on for medical pot, and who they are backed by:
– Amendment 2 (New Approach Missouri)
– Amendment 3 (Find the Cures/Dr. Brad Bradshaw)
– Proposition C (Missourians for Patient Care)
These measures will not go head-to-head in the same sense that two candidates would. All three measures feature a YES or NO vote, meaning they will either be approved or denied. You could technically vote for all three.
All of them could have a YES majority, and all of them could have a NO majority. However, only one can be enacted. If multiple measures pass, here is the state rule that decides which measure will be adopted:
– A constitutional AMENDMENT takes precedence over a PROPOSITION (change to the law)
– If both AMENDMENTS are approved, whichever with the most YES votes will be adopted
Each measure is different in it’s own way, below is a breakdown of what each proposal would entail:
AMENDMENT 2
-4% tax on the retail sale of medical marijuana
– For patients with debilitating diseases, only recommended by state-licensed physicians
– Revenue creates a “Missourian Veterans’ Health and Care Fund”
– Revenue goes to Missouri Veterans Commission for health and care services
– Revenue used for regulation and licensing procedures for marijuana and marijuana facilities
– Allows patients to grow in their homes for easier access, as long as they possess a 90-day supply and keep it on their property in their own control
– Monitored and overseen by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
– Estimated to annually generate $18 million for state operating costs and veterans programs, $6 million for local governments
– Annual operating costs are estimated to be $7 million
AMENDMENT 3
– 15% tax on the medical retail sale of medical marijuana, and a tax on the wholesale sale of marijuana flowers and leaves per dry-weight ounce to licensed facilities
– Revenue creates/funds a research facility geared towards medical research for incurable diseases
– 50% of revenue goes to research facility
– Education funding; 25% of the revenue
– Missouri residents receive annual tax refund; 25% of the revenue generated will be divided equally to those who paid $500 or more for state income taxes the year prior
– Monitored and overseen by a board with members appointed by chairman Dr. Brad Bradshaw; Bradshaw then steps down from board
– For use by patients with debilitating diseases; which could be expanded by research board upon scientific evidence
– Estimated to generate $66 million annually
– Estimates initial implementation costs of $186,000
– Increased annual operating costs of $500,000
PROPOSITION C
– 2% tax on the retail sale of medical marijuana
– Revenue used for veterans’ services, drug treatment, early childhood education, and for public safety in cities with a medical marijuana facility
– Removes state prohibitions on growth, possession, production, and sale of medical marijuana by licensed and regulated facilities, and a facility’s licensed owners and employees
– Remove state prohibitions on personal use and possession of medical cannabis (marijuana)
– For use of patients with written certification by a physician who treats a patient diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition
The election is on November 6, 2018.
Credit:Source link
