Missouri to vote on medical cannabis in November

On November 6, Missouri residents will be able to vote for legalize medical cannabis in their state. And they currently have a choice of three different measures, each with a different take on the model for regulating the medical use of cannabis.

The legalization of medical cannabis has strong support in Missouri and appears to be on track. Last Thursday, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft certified the number of signatures on two of the three proposed measures, with the third already qualified for the ballot. The winning measure will be the one that garners the most votes in November.

The 3 medical cannabis bills

Firstly, two constitutional amendments are proposed. L’Amendment 2 has the support of the patient association New Approach Missouri. Their amendment proposes a dispensary tax of 4% and would use the estimated $18 million in taxes to fund programs for veterans and seniors. This is the only amendment proposing to legalize self-cultivation and set up a seed-to-sale tracking system.

L’Amendment 3, nicknamed the Bradshaw Amendment, named after the doctor who funded almost the entire bill, would create a 9-person control body, headed by Bradshaw, which would decide on license costs, purchase limits and quantities to be grown. The amendment proposes the highest taxation: growers would pay 9.25$ per ounce (about 28 grams) of dried flowers sold to dispensaries, while customers would be taxed 15% on their purchases. Unenthusiastic about competition, Bradshaw has also sued the other two proposals to make room for himself. So far, his attempts have failed.

Finally, the Proposal C would tax sales at the lowest rate: 2%. It is supported by the association Missourians for Patient Care and received the fewest signatures of the three so far (it also needed fewer to pass).