Initiative petitions to legalize marijuana OK'd for circulation

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Nevada Daily Mail

Two virtually identical initiative petitions have been approved by the Missouri Secretary of State's Office for circulation, proposing to legalize marijuana and a make a number of related changes in the law.

Proposed by Dan Viets, of Columbia, Mo., the two initiatives differ only in that one proposes a change to Article IV of the Missouri Constitution; the other proposes to do so by changing Missouri law.

Both petitions propose to: legalize cannabis (commonly known as marijuana) for individuals 21 years or older; make medical cannabis available to individuals with a physician's recommendation including those under 21 with parental or legal guardian consent and physician supervision; create licensing processes for operation of cannabis establishments; release individuals incarcerated or on probation or parole for non-violent, cannabis-only offenses which would no longer be illegal and expunge all records related to such offenses; and allow the legislature to enact a tax on the retail sale of dried cannabis up to $100 per pound.

It's estimated that state goverment operating costs would increase by at least $1 million, but the total cost is unknown; and the cost would be offset by an unknown increase in fee and tax revenues. The fiscal impact to local governments also is unknown. with some increase in revenue possible.

Should the proponents of the petition succeed in gathering enough signatures to do so, the measure may appear on the November 2012 ballot.

Petitions to change Missouri's Constitution must bear the signatures of registered Missouri voters equal in number to 8 percent of the total votes cast in the 2008 gubernatorial election from six of the state's nine congressional districts.

Petitions to change Missouri statutes must bear the signatures of registered voters equal in number to 5 percent of the total votes cast in the 2008 gubernatorial election from six of the state's nine congressional districts.

In both cases, signatures are due in the Secretary of State's Office by 5 p.m., May 6, 2012.

Even as the Missouri petition surfaces, federal authorities are cracking down on California marijuana dispensaries, the Associated Press reported on Monday.

Comments

View 16 comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

I'll sign it and I don't use the stuff. I had a friend suffer from chemo because he was afraid to buy pot.

-- Posted by sam floor on Tue, Nov 8, 2011, at 1:31 AM
Keep up the fight, Mr. Veits.

-- Posted by Custom 1911 on Tue, Nov 8, 2011, at 7:56 AM
I'm hoping people will look at this with an open mind based on facts not the old Reefer Madness type scare tactics. Drugs are bad,m'kay. Drugs can also be helpful if used properly. I'd much rather see our courts and police focus on violent crimes and thefts. We're spending millions every year to imprison people to protect them from a drug which increases the munchies and may make you a little drowsy and silly. Take the profit from the MJ trade and we can seriously put a dent in the violent drug cartels if we eliminate the profits related to it's illegality.

-- Posted by undeded on Tue, Nov 8, 2011, at 8:41 AM
I DON'T USE IT EITHER, BUT I WOULD SIGN THIS PETITION. CANCER PATIENTS NEED THIS DURING CHEMO TO HELP THEM TO EAT AND KEEP FOOD DOWN AS THEY GET VERY SICK. I WOULD RATHER THE POLICE ENFORCE THE METH AND MORE DANGEROUS DRUGS THAT CAUSE A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND CRIME RATHER THAN MJ.

-- Posted by BORN&RAISEDNEVADAMO on Tue, Nov 8, 2011, at 9:39 AM
I agree with legalizing it. Please look at both sides, dont just jump up and say no, not just cancer patients need this drug, there are other problems it does help with.

-- Posted by nevadaoldlady2 on Tue, Nov 8, 2011, at 11:56 AM
Too many POSITIVE benefits in one way,shape or form to EVRYONE and GOVERNMENT BUDGETS for this to pass.We won't include what the alcohol establishment thinks about the potential LOSS OF PROFIT if this should pass or the lives saved from drunk drivers but SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE OF... is a different story!

-- Posted by B_WILD on Tue, Nov 8, 2011, at 2:00 PM
Nerve pain can also be helped by marijuana. Use the tax revenue to fight meth!

-- Posted by IcedGreenTea on Tue, Nov 8, 2011, at 3:49 PM
howitzer, you answered your own question. Your surgeon shouldn't be lighting up before an operation any more than he should be operating tipsy from a 3 martini lunch. Same rules as alcohol should cover everything.

-- Posted by IcedGreenTea on Tue, Nov 8, 2011, at 8:08 PM
As I see things -- it would be used, and probably abused, as a recreational substance and since it can and does affect one's judgement it needs some rigid regulations if made legal! I would find no fault with it being legalized and used for medical use if it is, in fact, beneficial.

With all the substance abuse today I would not like to see it legalized for recreational use.

-- Posted by befair on Tue, Nov 8, 2011, at 9:01 PM
This should have been done years ago. The legal drugs cause more issues in society( alcohol, tobbaco, and prescription drugs).

Tax it package it and sell it just like liquor.

You would be surprised at the people in Nevada who would be considered crimminals because they smoke pot.

No one has ever overdosed on pot, can you say that for the other drugs out there? Legal and illegal.

I have it on good authority that it will make your babies come out naked.

-- Posted by endersgame on Wed, Nov 9, 2011, at 7:51 AM
so in the local poll

51.3% are for it

43.6% are against it

5% are not sure. split that by 50% and you end up with 53.8% for it

Majority rules.

-- Posted by endersgame on Wed, Nov 9, 2011, at 7:57 AM
I'm all for any law that causes this overreaching government to BACK UP.

The release of millions of people convicted of VICTIMLESS crimes is also a great idea. I've always believed for a "crime" to be committed there must be a victim. Using "the State" as a "victim" is another gateway to tyranny in my estimation.

Just one problem, what would we do with all the money saved?

-- Posted by Mr. Chibbers on Wed, Nov 9, 2011, at 1:04 PM
Wow I believe this is a good idea. First the state would release quite a few incarcerated persons (of nonviolent crimes)which would instantly save the state a lot of money. The taxes generated from the distribution would make the state a lot of money. The taxes could potentially make local governments a lot of money. In return maybe some of our underpaid government workers (police, fire) could actually make the wages their jobs warrant. This could totally be a win, win situation for the state and it's citizens as long as it is regulated. Marijuana would need to have similar laws and regulations as alcohol (driving while high, going to work high, underage smoking for examples). This could be very beneficial for people who are suffering from cancer and it's treatments also. I have never suffered from the illness but have known some that have and they say that the marijuana they smoked helped them keep an appetite which helped them live through the ordeal. I really hope this gets passed.

-- Posted by keepin_it_real on Wed, Nov 9, 2011, at 7:34 PM
thing someone stopped for DWH would be one toke over the line?

-- Posted by thoth2011 on Fri, Nov 11, 2011, at 2:40 AM
Time for a pinchie with all this weed talk. Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights...

-- Posted by vcbill on Sun, Nov 13, 2011, at 10:52 AM
IF it became legal how many of you would use it in lew of alcohol if you do use alcohol OR prescription narcotics...be honest there is enough HYPROCRICY so can we have a little backbone/HONESTY! I got addicted to prescribed narcotics for my back pain so I became a criminal and started smoking the weed and quit the prescriptions.It controls my pain much more effectively,easier on my liver,i'm not moody and I CAN FUNCTION COMFORTABLY FROM THE TIME I WAKE UP TO THE TIME I GO TO BED....I find BONG RIPS the most effictive!!! :)

-- Posted by B_WILD on Tue, Nov 15, 2011, at 2:48 PM

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration:

If you already have an account, follow this link to login
Otherwise, follow this link to register