Poll: Could marijuana become legal in Missouri? : News : ConnectMidMissouri.com

Poll: Could marijuana become legal in Missouri?

Posted: 07.07.2011 at 3:52 PM

Updated: 07.08.2011 at 3:55 PM

Advocates for medical marijuana want to see an issue on the 2012 November ballot to legalize the drug in Missouri.

Could marijuana use become legal in Missouri? Missouri marijuana advocates are hoping to let voters answer that question next year.

A group called Show-Me Cannabis filed an initiative request with the Missouri Secretary of State on Wednesday. The initiative would legalize the drug and regulate medical use.

We put the question to our KRCG Facebook fans. The reaction was mixed with some strongly wanting medical marijuana legalized and others opposed to the measure.

The state must approve the ballot language for a proposed Missouri constitutional amendment and then the group would have to collect enough signatures from registered voters by next May to get the question on the November ballot.

The measure would decriminalize pot use, possession and small-scale cultivation by Missourians age 21 and older. It would also require the state to issue retail licenses to sell the drug and oversee a medical marijuana program.

Sixteen states have medical marijuana programs. Activists are targeting several other states next year.

This chart, from medicalmarijuana.procon.org shows which states have already legalized medical marijuana programs.

Legalized marijuana