marijuana

Missouri voters will decide this November whether to legalize recreational marijuana, four years after they first approved the drug for medicinal use. But will advocates be able to get the votes to pass this constitutional amendment?

Critics of the Legal Missouri amendment say it furthers the mistakes of the state’s medical marijuana market and will continue to push out minority growers and small businesses.

If passed in November's election, the petition would legalize recreational marijuana for those 21 and older. The recreational system would include caps on licenses and give precedence to existing licensees, who would be permitted to serve both medical and non-medical purchasers.

Two initiatives proposing amendments to the Missouri Constitution were submitted Sunday. If each has sufficient signatures, they will likely be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Lawmakers in Missouri are fresh off of passing the biggest budget in state history. Now the General Assembly has just a few days left to make decisions on several big issues, all just a few months before an election.

One bill in the Missouri House would legalize recreational adult-use marijuana in the state and open the door for nonviolent marijuana offenders to petition for expungement. Meanwhile, advocates are circulating an initiative petition in an effort to place legalization on the November 2022 ballot.

Researchers at Kansas State University said hemp could be a natural way to decrease stress-related respiratory infections and other ailments when cattle are being transported or weaned off their mothers.

Dawn Huston served seven years and nine months in prison before Gov. Mike Parson commuted her sentence.

Kansas nearly passed legislation last year that would have legalized cannabis for medical use. If it does so this year, it may be available by early 2024.

More than 2,000 applications were submitted for medical marijuana licenses in 2019, but fewer than 400 were ultimately awarded. And while the state doesn’t track the race of those who got a license, people in the burgeoning industry say few went to Black-owned businesses.

For the first time, the USDA reported nation-wide numbers on hemp production. Industry experts hope it will bring new investments into processing centers to support Midwestern farmers.

Legal MO 2022 is a ballot initiative campaign to bring recreational marijuana to Missouri. When a state legalizes cannabis, there's a lot to consider.