Legislators in Missouri have sponsored bills ranging from legislation that would lower criminal penalties for possession of a small amount of marijuana, to bills that would establish medical marijuana programs for the state, to bills that would even tax and regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol.
Both the House and Senate passed SB 491, which, among many other changes under the law, creates a new category of misdemeanor — Class D. This bill will soon go to the governor for his signature. People charged with marijuana possession of less than 10 grams would no face jail time.HB 1325, sponsored by Rep. Rory Ellinger, would lower the criminal penalty for possession of less than 35 grams of cannabis to a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine only. The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, but has not yet received a hearing.
Meanwhile, several bills were put forth that would each establish a medical marijuana program for seriously ill patients who qualify. SB 951, sponsored by Sen. Jason Holsman, would create a regulatory system supervised by the Department of Health and Senior Services similar to those currently in 21 other states and the District of Columbia. A similar bill which started in the House, HB 1324, sponsored by Rep. Rory Ellinger, would also establish a framework for the regulation of patient access to medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation centers. Finally, HB 2238 would authorize the use of “hemp extract,” a cannabis oil primarily containing one of the active ingredients in medical marijuana, cannabidiol (also referred to as CBD), for individuals with seizure conditions. The bill is severely limited to only those patients with epilepsy that cannot be treated with at least three other treatment options. For a detailed look at the bill, click here. For an analysis on how limited this type of approach is, see our summary,
Rep. Chris Kelly introduced HB 1659, a bill that would tax and regulate cannabis for adults 21 and over. However, following a hearing by the House Committee on Crime and Prevention and Public Safety in March, Rep. Kelly is considering amending the bill to establish a medical marijuana program, an approach which the committee appeared to favor. Ask your legislators to protect medical marijuana patients.
Marijuana laws in Missouri
Missouri has some of the harshest marijuana laws in the country, despite studies which indicate that stiff penalties do not result in lesser use. Possession of any amount of marijuana — even as little as a gram — can be punished by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine under state law. Possession of over 35 grams — about 1.25 ounces — is a felony subject to a prison sentence of up to seven years and a $5,000 fine.
In 2011, Missouri arrested over 20,000 individuals for marijuana-related offenses, 91% of which were for possession. During the same year, 86% of reported burglaries — including home invasions — and 87% of motor vehicle thefts went unsolved by law enforcement. In addition to marijuana prohibition diverting police from more serious crime, it’s also been unevenly enforced between races. For instance, did you know that African-Americans are 2.6 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession, even though blacks and whites consume marijuana at similar rates? For more information on how the war on marijuana consumers is often waged unequally, check out the ACLU’s recent report. And, if you agree Missouri should take marijuana off the criminal market, legalize it for adults 21 and older, and tax and regulate it similarly to alcohol, tell your state representative and senator today!
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