The proposed constitutional amendment would allow Missourians ages 21 and older to possess, consume, purchase and cultivate marijuana.
“Missouri shouldn’t legalize marijuana without automatically expunging thousands of criminal records for marijuana offenses that will soon be legal,” said John Bowman, president of the St.
The state Department of Health and Senior Services has issued more than 136,000 medical cannabis cards to Missouri patients and caregivers, a participation rate significantly higher than early estimates.
As of January 2017, the Missouri Highway Patrol reported nearly 100,000 marijuana-related arrest charges in the state’s criminal justice database.
A 2020 report by the American Civil Liberties Union found that Blacks are 2.6 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession in Missouri, even with comparable national usage rates.
“We are very proud of the strong patient, consumer, and community protections included in the petition,” said Jamie Kacz, executive director of NORML KC.