Robert Celt
New Member
It's crunch time for backers of a proposed state constitutional change allowing medical marijuana in Missouri. The group New Approach Missouri will have to turn in about 160,000 signatures by May 8 to make the November ballot.
Jack Cardetti, spokesman for New Approach Missouri, says the group is a little more than two-thirds of the way there.
"We feel we're in really good shape with basically five weeks to go to get the signatures," Cardetti said last week. "The response we've gotten from Missourians who want to make Missouri the 24th state to allow doctors to recommend marijuana for medical purposes has been extraordinary."
The group must gather signatures from eight percent of legal voters in six of Missouri's eight congressional districts. The minimum amount of signatures needed, then, is about 157,000, according to the Missouri Secretary of State.
"We've really had a good response statewide," Cardetti said. "There are really no problem districts. We feel really good about the progress made in each one of them."
The state Department of Health and Senior Services would regulate the new amendment. Those with cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, intractable migraines, post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV or AIDS, Alzheimer's disease or a terminal illness would qualify. Those with chronic muscle spasms or chronic pain could also qualify.
The limit on how much pot a patient could buy in a month would be no less than six ounces, according to the proposal. Qualifying patients could also grow up to six plants in their homes.
For growers, the state would give out no more than one license per 80,000 residents and would start a seed-to-sale tracking program. A 4 percent sales tax would be used for veterans' health care.
But just as New Approach Missouri is working to collect signatures, some in the Missouri Legislature are pushing an alternative.
Another measure, sponsored by state Rep. Dave Hinson, R-St. Clair, would tighten the list of acceptable conditions and wouldn't allow home growing. His bill would also limit the amount of grower licenses to 30 statewide.
Hinson's bill has made it to the House floor, but still needs to pass the House and Senate with just five weeks left in the legislative session.
"We're going to whip it within our caucus in the next day or so and see where we're at," Hinson said last week. "The Senate has assured me that they would, you know, give it time, get it on the calendar in committee and, if it makes it to the floor, give it time for an up-or-down vote."
If passed, Hinson's bill would go before voters in August, potentially sabotaging New Approach Missouri's measure if it makes the November ballot.
"The other one is going to be on the November ballot, so if we can get mine passed in August then I think voters won't turn around and vote for the other bill," Hinson said.
Besides that Hinson thinks conditions such as chronic pain – which people could conceivably lie about – should be left off the acceptable conditions list, he also opposes changing the state's constitution, which would mean lawmakers couldn't tinker with the language.
"They realize that the General Assembly really can't touch a constitutional amendment," Hinson said. "Basically, the constitution is kind of like our state's Bible, and I just don't think we need to have that in the constitution because it's very difficult to make changes."
Eapen Thampy, a registered lobbyist representing companies wanting to invest in Missouri medicinal pot, says a cap on the number of licenses in both proposals will mean higher prices for patients and inevitable controversy surrounding who eventually gets licenses.
Hinson's bill also states that those wanting to apply to grow or sell medicinal pot will be required to have $500,000 in assets. Thampy also lamented what he said were high licensing fees written in to New Approach's language.
"Our fundamental concern is the barrier to entry with both the ballot petition and the bill," Thampy said. He said he will lobby to change either Hinson's bill or a bill sponsored by state Rep. Jim Neely, R-Cameron, which has yet to gain much traction.
Meanwhile, New Approach Misouri has continued to collect big checks from donors. The group had just over $266,000 cash on hand at the end of the last reporting period in January and has since collected numerous donations over $5,000.
In April alone, New Approach Missouri has reported raising almost $129,000 in donations over $5,000, including a $30,000 check from Luke Sinquefield, son of Missouri mega-donor Rex Sinquefield.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Missouri Medical Marijuana Effort Faces May 8th Signature Deadline
Author: Jack Suntrup
Contact: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Photo Credit: Seth Perlman
Website: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Jack Cardetti, spokesman for New Approach Missouri, says the group is a little more than two-thirds of the way there.
"We feel we're in really good shape with basically five weeks to go to get the signatures," Cardetti said last week. "The response we've gotten from Missourians who want to make Missouri the 24th state to allow doctors to recommend marijuana for medical purposes has been extraordinary."
The group must gather signatures from eight percent of legal voters in six of Missouri's eight congressional districts. The minimum amount of signatures needed, then, is about 157,000, according to the Missouri Secretary of State.
"We've really had a good response statewide," Cardetti said. "There are really no problem districts. We feel really good about the progress made in each one of them."
The state Department of Health and Senior Services would regulate the new amendment. Those with cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, intractable migraines, post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV or AIDS, Alzheimer's disease or a terminal illness would qualify. Those with chronic muscle spasms or chronic pain could also qualify.
The limit on how much pot a patient could buy in a month would be no less than six ounces, according to the proposal. Qualifying patients could also grow up to six plants in their homes.
For growers, the state would give out no more than one license per 80,000 residents and would start a seed-to-sale tracking program. A 4 percent sales tax would be used for veterans' health care.
But just as New Approach Missouri is working to collect signatures, some in the Missouri Legislature are pushing an alternative.
Another measure, sponsored by state Rep. Dave Hinson, R-St. Clair, would tighten the list of acceptable conditions and wouldn't allow home growing. His bill would also limit the amount of grower licenses to 30 statewide.
Hinson's bill has made it to the House floor, but still needs to pass the House and Senate with just five weeks left in the legislative session.
"We're going to whip it within our caucus in the next day or so and see where we're at," Hinson said last week. "The Senate has assured me that they would, you know, give it time, get it on the calendar in committee and, if it makes it to the floor, give it time for an up-or-down vote."
If passed, Hinson's bill would go before voters in August, potentially sabotaging New Approach Missouri's measure if it makes the November ballot.
"The other one is going to be on the November ballot, so if we can get mine passed in August then I think voters won't turn around and vote for the other bill," Hinson said.
Besides that Hinson thinks conditions such as chronic pain – which people could conceivably lie about – should be left off the acceptable conditions list, he also opposes changing the state's constitution, which would mean lawmakers couldn't tinker with the language.
"They realize that the General Assembly really can't touch a constitutional amendment," Hinson said. "Basically, the constitution is kind of like our state's Bible, and I just don't think we need to have that in the constitution because it's very difficult to make changes."
Eapen Thampy, a registered lobbyist representing companies wanting to invest in Missouri medicinal pot, says a cap on the number of licenses in both proposals will mean higher prices for patients and inevitable controversy surrounding who eventually gets licenses.
Hinson's bill also states that those wanting to apply to grow or sell medicinal pot will be required to have $500,000 in assets. Thampy also lamented what he said were high licensing fees written in to New Approach's language.
"Our fundamental concern is the barrier to entry with both the ballot petition and the bill," Thampy said. He said he will lobby to change either Hinson's bill or a bill sponsored by state Rep. Jim Neely, R-Cameron, which has yet to gain much traction.
Meanwhile, New Approach Misouri has continued to collect big checks from donors. The group had just over $266,000 cash on hand at the end of the last reporting period in January and has since collected numerous donations over $5,000.
In April alone, New Approach Missouri has reported raising almost $129,000 in donations over $5,000, including a $30,000 check from Luke Sinquefield, son of Missouri mega-donor Rex Sinquefield.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Missouri Medical Marijuana Effort Faces May 8th Signature Deadline
Author: Jack Suntrup
Contact: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Photo Credit: Seth Perlman
Website: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
