Cannabis in Missouri

Cannabis in Missouri, United States, is illegal for recreational and medical purposes, but use of low-THC CBD oil is allowed for certain conditions under 2014 legislation. Possession of small amounts was decriminalized in 2014.

2014 decriminalization

In 2014, a revamp of the state's criminal code, the first done since 1979, removed the possibility of jail time for first-time possession of cannabis; the changes to the code take effect in 2017.[1]

2014 legalization of CBD

In July 2014 Governor Jay Nixon signed into law the Missouri Medical Marijuana Bill, allowing the use of CBD oil to treat persistent seizures. In 2015 the state issued licenses to two non-profits to grow cannabis for oil to be sold to patients.[2]

House Bill 2238

House Bill 2238 was introduced by Representative Caleb Jones (R) and read for the first time on March 31, 2014; Read the second time and referred to General Laws Committee on April 1, 2014; Referred to the Rules Committee on April 9, 2014; Voted "do pass" by the House Rules Committee on April 10, 2014; Referred for Fiscal Review on April 23, 2014; Voted "do pass" on April 24, 2014; Taken up for third reading and passed by a vote of 139-13 on April 24, 2014; Emergency clause adopted by a vote of 136-14 on April 24, 2014.[3]

On April 28, 2014 the Senate read the bill for the first time. The second read was on April 29, 2014 and referred to Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committees after which a Public hearing was held. The Senate Committee Substitute voted do pass, and was then referred to the Senate Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight committee on April 30, 2014. The third reading passed in the Senate by a vote of 32-0, sent to the House, which agreed and passed by a vote of 136-12 on May 1, 2014.[3]

House Bill 2238, "Allows the Department of Agriculture to grow industrial hemp for research purposes and allows the use of hemp extract to treat certain individuals with epilepsy." The bill demands a neurologist to determine that the "intractable epilepsy" does not respond to at least three treatment options for a person to be eligible to use the marijuana extract. HB 2238 only allows hemp extract that contains more than 5% of cannabidiol (CBD) and no more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).[3]

Polling

Mayor of St. Louis, Francis Slay posted an informal poll on his mayoral website in January 2014, asking his constituents whether or not they were in favour of the legalisation of recreational marijuana and by extension whether the citizens believe that Missouri ought to follow Colorado.[4] The published results stated that over 90% of the people who voted were in favour of the implementation of legalised recreational usage of marijuana, and 70% supporting taxation upon its sale. 28% of those who supported this movement stating they had used the drug in the past week.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Stuckey, Alex (2014-05-13). "Missouri Gov. Nixon lets criminal code revamp become law | Law and order". stltoday.com. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
  2. ↑ Posted 9:57 pm, February 24, 2015, by Melanie Moon (2015-02-24). "Cannabis oil to be sold in Missouri legally". FOX2now.com. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
  3. 1 2 3 O'Keefe, Karen. "8 States with Pending Legislation to Legalize Medical Marijuana - Medical Marijuana - ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. February 6, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Mini Polls Archive - Mayor Slay: Standing up for St. Louis". MayorSlay. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Mayor Slay poll: Should Missouri legalize pot?". KSDK. January 13, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
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