Election in Missouri: Marijuana for Medical Purposes Established

Missouri became Tuesday the 32nd state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, with voters voting an amendment to the state's constitution.

"It was a historic day for Missouri patients and veterans," said Jack Cardetti of New Approach Missouri, who argued for the amendment.

"Missurians suffering from cancer, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder and other debilitating diseases can finally finally work with their doctor to determine if marijuana for medical purposes is an appropriate treatment option. "

The measure, called Amendment 2 on the ballot, will amend the state's constitution to allow doctors to prescribe cannabis for a list of 10 health problems. He got 65% approval and 3,066 of the 3,256 commissioners counted on Tuesday night.

Sales will be subject to a 4% state tax, the proceeds of this sale being used to fund services for veterans. It is expected to generate about $ 24 million a year.

The vote was complicated because two other initiatives related to marijuana for medical purposes were on the ballot.

▪ Amendment 3 would have amended the state's constitution under a plan developed by Brad Bradshaw, physician / lawyer for Springfield, creating a medical marijuana research institute led by Bradshaw . He had received 32% approval.

▪ Proposal C would have changed the law of the state. This amendment was similar to amendment 2, but with different levels of taxation and as it was a law and not a constitutional amendment, the legislator could amend it. He had received 42% approval.

On the eve of Tuesday's election, 31 states and Washington, DC, had already legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Most other states, including Missouri, have authorized the use of cannabis oil with little or no THC, the marijuana ingredient that produces the "high level" sought after by recreational users.

Missouri's legalization campaign, like others since Colorado and California approved the oldest marijuana laws for medical purposes, had a lot of money.

New Approach Missouri raised more than $ 1.5 million, including $ 250,000 from Drug Policy Action, a New York non-profit organization dedicated to drug law developments.

The main opposition group, Citizens for Safe Medicine, raised only about $ 6,000.

Amendment 2 was the broadest of the three legalization efforts on the ballot. It was the only one that allowed people eligible for marijuana for medical purposes to grow themselves (up to six flowering plants).

Patients will need a note from their doctor certifying that they have a health problem that allows them to consume marijuana. Amendment 2 includes some specific conditions such as cancer, epilepsy and glaucoma, but also indicates that any terminal illness is eligible, as well as "any other chronic, debilitating or medical condition" for which a doctor recommends marijuana.

This makes doctors the guardians of legal marijuana in Missouri, a role that most major groups of doctors in the state do not appreciate.

The Missouri State Medical Society, the Kansas City Medical Society, and others have objected to the issues surrounding the vote on marijuana for medical purposes.

Physician groups, as well as Citizens for Safe Medicine, argued that while some components of cannabis may have medical benefits, they should be incorporated into products tested by the Food and Drug Administration at doses and a standard activity.

"Cannabis is a raw plant," said Citizens for Safe Medicine. "Most modern doctors, pharmacists and practitioners do not treat diseases with raw plants."

The groups also said that smoking everything, including marijuana, posed health risks, as well as cognitive risks for heavy users of marijuana, especially teens.

But Paul Callicoat, a Joplin doctor who campaigned for Amendment 2, said some colleagues and he would be willing to help their patients try it.

"I think doctors, at least in my part of the country, are receptive," Callicoat said.

To implement Amendment 2, the Missouri Department of Health and Seniors' Services will now have to set limits on the number of people with qualified purchasing conditions who are allowed to buy from clinics and to own the same. time.

Marijuana remains completely illegal at the federal level and Attorney General Jeff Sessions has announced his intention to enforce this ban. But a congressional law in effect since 2014 prohibits federal officials from seizing marijuana grown for medical purposes in states where it is legal.

Jane Gold, a 69-year-old Kansas City resident, said she wanted to try marijuana for medical purposes because she was suffering from knee and hip replacement pain and that she was allergic. opioids.

"I have a lot of medical problems, the main one being arthritis," Gold said.

Gold said that she had been working on petitioning campaigns to get marijuana for medical purposes on the ballot for years.

Most people present in Kansas City on Tuesday night at an evening of watching Amendment 2 in New York were younger than she, but she said that she thought the had probably received significant support from his generation at the polls.

"We grew up in the '60s," said Gold. "And we smoked potty at the time."