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Missouri recreational marijuana petition certified for November ballot

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A petition to legalize recreational marijuana in Missouri is going before voters in November.

Legal Missouri 2022, the group behind the effort, and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft's office separately announced the news this morning. The general election is scheduled Nov. 8.

“I encourage Missourians to study and educate themselves on any ballot initiative,” Ashcroft said in a news release. “Initiative 2022-059 that voters will see on the November ballot is particularly lengthy and should be given careful consideration.”

The state certified 214,535 voter signatures after the petition was signed by more than 400,000 supporters, according to a separate news release from Legal Missouri 2022.

Slated to be listed as Amendment 3 on the ballot, the proposed constitutional amendment would legalize adult-use marijuana and trigger a 6% state sales tax. According to Legal Missouri 2022 data, the 6% state sales tax would generate estimated annual revenue of at least $40.8 million. In addition, an optional local sales tax of up to 3% could bring in at least $13.8 million for local governments.

Additionally, the initiative would expunge the records of Missourians previously charged with nonviolent marijuana offenses.

“Our statewide coalition of activists, business owners, medical marijuana patients and criminal justice reform advocates has worked tirelessly to reach this point, and deserves all the credit,” said John Payne, Legal Missouri 2022 campaign manager, in the release.

Missouri residents approved medical marijuana legalization in November 2018 through Amendment 2.

Medical marijuana sales now average $30 million a month in Missouri, according to the release.

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jfaught@regalplastic.com

Millions of dollars in tax revenue and millions of tax dollars saved from Police not having to chase non-violent offenders. Sounds like a win win situation.

Thursday, August 11, 2022
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