Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Kansas City, Mo. - With voters heading to the polls on Nov. 8, there is one thing they won't see on the ballot that just about made it on there.
Missouri medical marijuana advocates collected signatures, falling just short of the required amount to end up on the November ballot.
NORML KC,one group advocating for the legalization of medical marijuana, said the group will continue pushing to get it on a future ballot.
One NORML KC member, Candace Baier, said she joined the group on behalf of her 6-year-old son, Harper Goldsby.
Harper has severe progressive epilepsy, meaning he has tons of seizures every day. Baier said he used to have between 300-500 seizures a day when he was a baby. She said the number is still high, but lower now. She does not have an exact count.
"There's so many variations of epilepsy. There will be people walking around like you and I who are able to take medication to control their seizures. There's people like Harper who have seizure after seizure all day every day," Baier said.
She said medical marijuana has helped other kids with epilepsy in states that have legalized and would like to be able to see if it could help Harper.
He is unable to talk or walk. He cannot eat dinner with the rest of the family because he has to eat through a machine.
"His quality of life is really poor. He is a very happy guy, but he does get scared. The choking scares him. He turns blue at least once a day," Baier said.
She said she joined NORML KC because she is desperate to find a way to help her son.
"He continues to get sicker the older that he gets and there are tons of children in the US that are in states that medical marijuana has been legalized and it is helping them so much," Baier said.
It was through NORML KC that Baier met executive director Jamie Kacz.
"We ended up not making the ballot. We ended up missing out by just a few signatures and we are going strong and going to try for 2018," Kacz said.
Missouri prosecutors led the fight against the initiative.
"The biggest problem with trying to legalize marijuana on a state-wide basis, it remains illegal under federal law, even though the Obama administration has decided not to enforce those laws," Platte County prosecutor Eric Zahnd said.
Due to the Controlled Substances Act of the United States, marijuana is illegal under federal law. President Barack Obama chooses not to enforce the law in states that legalized, but new administration could decide to enforce it again.
Currently, 25 states legalized medical marijuana and three more states will vote on it on Nov. 8.
Jennifer Shockley joined NORML KC when her mother passed away from a rare form of cancer.
"There was no chemo or radiation that would help her. It was basically a death sentence," Shockley said.
Her mother was a former registered nurse and thought medical marijuana could have improved her end-of-life quality.
"Medical cannabis to get on the ballot is one of her dying wishes," Shockley said.
Sara Campbell is another NORML KC member who said she joined because she thinks medical marijuana could help with her multiple sclerosis.
She said she is currently on medication that has dangerous side-effects and thinks medical marijuana could be a good alternative.
"That's really a decision that should be between me and my doctor and really shouldn't have anything to do with legislation," Campbell said.
As Harper had another seizure, Baier expressed her frustration. Hemp oil is legal in the state currently, but Baier said it is difficult to get access to.
"There are not any doctors in the Kansas City area and I haven't been able to find anyone in Missouri who is willing to help with that," Baier said.
Baier said she just wants to find a way to help her son.
"He continues to get sicker the older he gets and there are tons of children in the U.S. that are in states that medical marijuana has been legalized and it is helping them so much," Baier said.
Although Missouri voters will not make a decision on medical marijuana this year, NORML KC said the group is pushing to get the initiative on the 2018 ballot.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Taking A Closer Look At Medical Marijuana Legalization
Author: Amber Smith
Contact: 816-233-1606
Photo Credit: Robert F. Bukaty
Website: St. Joe Channel
Missouri medical marijuana advocates collected signatures, falling just short of the required amount to end up on the November ballot.
NORML KC,one group advocating for the legalization of medical marijuana, said the group will continue pushing to get it on a future ballot.
One NORML KC member, Candace Baier, said she joined the group on behalf of her 6-year-old son, Harper Goldsby.
Harper has severe progressive epilepsy, meaning he has tons of seizures every day. Baier said he used to have between 300-500 seizures a day when he was a baby. She said the number is still high, but lower now. She does not have an exact count.
"There's so many variations of epilepsy. There will be people walking around like you and I who are able to take medication to control their seizures. There's people like Harper who have seizure after seizure all day every day," Baier said.
She said medical marijuana has helped other kids with epilepsy in states that have legalized and would like to be able to see if it could help Harper.
He is unable to talk or walk. He cannot eat dinner with the rest of the family because he has to eat through a machine.
"His quality of life is really poor. He is a very happy guy, but he does get scared. The choking scares him. He turns blue at least once a day," Baier said.
She said she joined NORML KC because she is desperate to find a way to help her son.
"He continues to get sicker the older that he gets and there are tons of children in the US that are in states that medical marijuana has been legalized and it is helping them so much," Baier said.
It was through NORML KC that Baier met executive director Jamie Kacz.
"We ended up not making the ballot. We ended up missing out by just a few signatures and we are going strong and going to try for 2018," Kacz said.
Missouri prosecutors led the fight against the initiative.
"The biggest problem with trying to legalize marijuana on a state-wide basis, it remains illegal under federal law, even though the Obama administration has decided not to enforce those laws," Platte County prosecutor Eric Zahnd said.
Due to the Controlled Substances Act of the United States, marijuana is illegal under federal law. President Barack Obama chooses not to enforce the law in states that legalized, but new administration could decide to enforce it again.
Currently, 25 states legalized medical marijuana and three more states will vote on it on Nov. 8.
Jennifer Shockley joined NORML KC when her mother passed away from a rare form of cancer.
"There was no chemo or radiation that would help her. It was basically a death sentence," Shockley said.
Her mother was a former registered nurse and thought medical marijuana could have improved her end-of-life quality.
"Medical cannabis to get on the ballot is one of her dying wishes," Shockley said.
Sara Campbell is another NORML KC member who said she joined because she thinks medical marijuana could help with her multiple sclerosis.
She said she is currently on medication that has dangerous side-effects and thinks medical marijuana could be a good alternative.
"That's really a decision that should be between me and my doctor and really shouldn't have anything to do with legislation," Campbell said.
As Harper had another seizure, Baier expressed her frustration. Hemp oil is legal in the state currently, but Baier said it is difficult to get access to.
"There are not any doctors in the Kansas City area and I haven't been able to find anyone in Missouri who is willing to help with that," Baier said.
Baier said she just wants to find a way to help her son.
"He continues to get sicker the older he gets and there are tons of children in the U.S. that are in states that medical marijuana has been legalized and it is helping them so much," Baier said.
Although Missouri voters will not make a decision on medical marijuana this year, NORML KC said the group is pushing to get the initiative on the 2018 ballot.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Taking A Closer Look At Medical Marijuana Legalization
Author: Amber Smith
Contact: 816-233-1606
Photo Credit: Robert F. Bukaty
Website: St. Joe Channel
