The legalization of recreational cannabis is no longer a matter of moral opinion—it’s just common sense. A Missouri petition in support of cannabis legalization is forcing the state to acknowledge several topics that have been swept under the rug for far too long: the proven benefits of cannabis use, the devastating numbers of cannabis-related arrests, and the socioeconomic benefits of cannabis legalization.
Marijuana possession accounts for a significant portion of drug-related arrests in Missouri, incarcerating 21,000 Missourians in 2018 alone. As our nation gains a better understanding of the substance and its benefits, more and more states are making the logical decision to decriminalize and legalize cannabis. The petition would allow Missourians 21 and over to legally purchase and cultivate cannabis. It would place a 6% tax on all cannabis products with the intention of establishing an automatic expungement system for Missourians with nonviolent marijauana offenses on their record. The accumulated revenue would not just relieve deserving Missourians from the burden of their criminal record; it would also be used to fund health care for veterans and drug addiction treatment.
If passed, this ballot initiative would be the single largest criminal justice reform that Missouri has seen in decades. Many oppositions express concerns regarding public safety and unwanted threats to the status quo—two concerns that were immediately debunked in a statement by Legal Missouri 2022 Campaign Manager John Payne:
“The status quo has allowed an unsafe, illegal market to thrive in Missouri, while preventing law enforcement from truly prioritizing the fight against violent crime. Now is the time for Missouri to join the 19 other states to have successfully regulated and taxed adult-use marijuana, bringing millions in new funding for vital state services.”
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