Cannabis Law Reform Bills Filed In Missouri Assembly
By Dan Viets, JD, Chair of Show-Me Cannabis Regulation
A bill to legalize the limited use of marijuana as medicine and a bill to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana were both filed in the Missouri General Assembly
on Monday, January 13. The primary sponsor of both bills is Representative Rory Ellinger of University City.
House Bill 1324 would add Missouri to the quickly growing list of 22 states which now have some form of legal marijuana use for medical purposes, as does the District of Columbia. New York is the most recent state to join the list following executive action by Governor Andrew Cuomo. The bill would eliminate penalties for those who use marijuana pursuant to a recommendation by a licensed physician for the treatment of serious medical conditions.
It is anticipated that the medical marijuana bill will be assigned to the Health Care Policy Committee chaired by Representative Keith Frederick.
House Bill 1325 is based on the ordinance passed by the voters of the City of Columbia in 2004. It eliminates arrests in favor of the issuance of a summons. The bill would also eliminate the possibility of a jail sentence for possession of small amounts and encourages the Courts specifically to substitute community service work, drug counseling and other more constructive alternatives.
The decriminalization bill is expected to be assigned to the House Downsizing State Government Committee chaired by Representative Paul Curtman of Pacific, Missouri.
A very similar bill was heard in that committee last year very late in the session. It is hoped that an early hearing of the bill may take place this year.
Help us move reform forward in the Missouri legislature in the new session by contributing now!
Ricky Ableidinger
I am very much in favor of Decriminalizing in Missouri, it is time that we look at Cannabis 4 what it is instead of the lies we have all heard from our elected leaders This is a important step in the right direction with almost half of our country legalizing Medical Cannabis I think that we must offer this treatment to any one with Medical condition that is under the care of a doctor….
Heather
It is time for Missouri to come into the 21st century. Medicinal Marijuana would free so many people from the pain they have that rx drugs just don’t help. Many rx drugs make people even more sick, the side effects are just terrible. This is just a plant that the Lord himself put on this earth. Why don’t we illegalize alchohol as its side effects are terrible also? It seems that we are thinking backwards. Look inside your heart and find the truth, marijuana isn’t a terrible thing. It should be legalized!! Remember GOD put this plant here! Who are we to decide what Gods purpose for this plant is?