Drug War Issues
Politics & Advocacy
Activists with Show-Me Cannabis have been crisscrossing Missouri to lay the groundwork for marijuana legalization, and now, they've taken the next step. Columbia-based attorney Dan Viets, the group's chairman Wednesday filed a series of initiatives that would legalize marijuana via a constitutional amendment.
Show-Me Cannabis logo (show-mecannabis.com
The initiative petitions must be approved by the secretary of state's office, and after that, the office has 10 days to approve draft ballot summary language. Even if approved, initiative supporters face a daunting task. To qualify for the ballot, organizers must collect the signatures of roughly 320,000 registered voters by May 4 and they must gather signatures from at least 8% of registered voters in six of the state's eight US congressional districts.
Show-Me Cannabis Reform has commissioned polling that shows majority support for marijuana legalization. A September 2012 poll had legalization winning 50%-45%, with support climbing to 54% when respondents were given more information. Still, that is outside the comfort level for most initiative-watchers, who will argue that initiatives should be polling at least 60% at the beginning of the campaign.
But Show-Me Cannabis Reform is undaunted and moving forward. While some marijuana reform-friendly state legislators would prefer that lawmakers deal with the issue instead of voters, the group doesn't want to wait for the legislature to get around to it.
"We believe the legislature is totally out of touch with the voters of Missouri on this," Viets told the Columbia Missourian Wednesday.
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Comments
Something that is not often
Something that is not often talked about in legalization is that prohibition can do so much to harm the relationships between family members and friends between people who don't smoke weed and people who do. It's so stupid and so absurd and so harmful. It's exasperating. I can't wait to live in a world where marijuana is legal.
In reply to Something that is not often by TrebleBass (not verified)
if your family understands
if your family understands you for drinking obviously they should understand you for weed
In reply to Something that is not often by TrebleBass (not verified)
Herb
It's Herb.
In reply to Something that is not often by TrebleBass (not verified)
Very well said.
Polls showed a 7% jump in
Polls showed a 7% jump in
Polls showed a 7% jump in California (from 45 to 52), 6% in Florida (from 42 to 48), compared to last year. (These numbers were for general legalization, not tax/regulation). So assuming if Missouri has experienced a similar jump, they should be pretty close to 60%.
Legalize it so that the
Bible Belt
I see this passing in the urban areas of KC, St. Louis and Springfield but unfortunately, I see the religio-right folks in the rural areas shooting it down. I've informally polled some of these people both from Missouri and Kansas and the prevailing attitude seems to be that it's OK to be a drunken hillbilly but don't you DARE smoke marijuana.
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