Missouri Cannabis Legalization Initiative (2018)

Missouri Cannabis Legalization Initiative
Election date November 6, 2018
Topic Marijuana
Status Not on the ballot
Type Constitutional amendment	Origin Citizens
List of Missouri measuresMissouri Proposition A - AugustMissouri Amendment 1Missouri Amendment 2Missouri Amendment 3Missouri Amendment 4Missouri Proposition BMissouri Proposition CMissouri Proposition DSubmit

The Missouri Cannabis Legalization Initiative was not on the ballot in Missouri as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 6, 2018.

The measure would have legalized marijuana for recreational use for persons 18 years of age or older. The measure would have also immediately released prisoners who were convicted of nonviolent marijuana-only offenses.

Text of measure

Ballot title

As two versions of this initiative were authorized for circulation, the secretary of state crafted a ballot title for each one.

Measure 2018-110

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to remove all State prohibitions against personal use of cannabis (marijuana) by anyone over 18; for all ages upon a licensed physician's recommendation but still require parental consent for those under 21; remove any state organ transplant restrictions from cannabis use; remove cannabis from Missouri's list of Controlled Substances; release everyone incarcerated only for non-violent cannabis-only offenses, and destroy all state civil and criminal records only for non-violent cannabis-only offenses; and prohibit Missouri assisting enforcement of federal cannabis offenses? This proposal is estimated to result in annual state cost savings of $10 million. Annual state operating costs are estimated to increase by $600,000 to $1 million. Local law enforcement costs could increase.

Measure 2018-115

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to remove all State prohibitions against personal use of cannabis (marijuana) by anyone over 18; for all ages upon a licensed physician's recommendation but still require parental consent for those under 21, but prohibit prosecution for consenting to child consumption; remove any state organ transplant restrictions from cannabis use; remove cannabis from Missouri's list of Controlled Substances; release everyone incarcerated only for non-violent cannabis-only offenses, and destroy all state civil and criminal records only for non-violent cannabis-only offenses; and prohibit Missouri assisting enforcement of federal cannabis offenses? This proposal is estimated to result in annual state cost savings of $10 million. Annual state operating costs are estimated to increase by $600,000 to $1 million. Local law enforcement costs could increase.

Measure 2018-172

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to release all individuals from incarceration, parole and probation if convicted only of non-violent cannabis (marijuana) related crimes; remove state prohibitions on the possession, production and sale of marijuana for personal use for minors and adults, but prohibit the sale of medical marijuana for personal use; and provide for regulation and licensure of medical marijuana dispensaries, including requiring verification of a patient registry number provided by the government, before providing medical marijuana to patients? This proposal is estimated to result in annual state cost savings of $6.3 million. State government entities estimate increased annual operating costs of $662,000 with the potential for additional increase. State government entities expect an unknown change in revenue. Local law enforcement costs could increase.

Constitutional changes

See also: Article IV, Missouri Constitution

The measure would have added a Section 54 to Article IV of the Missouri Constitution.

Developments in federal marijuana policy

See also: Federal policy on marijuana, 2017-2018

Although the Department of Justice under Presidents Trump (R) and Obama (D) has not prosecuted most individuals and businesses following state and local marijuana laws as of January 2018, both medical and recreational marijuana are illegal under federal law. In November 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions (R)—a Trump nominee—told Congress that the policy of his office would stay fundamentally the same as that of the previous two attorneys general, Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch. On January 4, 2018, however, Sessions rescinded the Cole Memo, a 2013 directive that deprioritized the enforcement of federal marijuana laws in states where marijuana had been legalized. This allows federal prosecutors to decide whether or not to enforce federal law regarding marijuana.

Click here to read more about developments in federal policy on marijuana under the Trump administration.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Missouri

Supporters of the initiative were required to collect a number of signatures equivalent to 8 percent of the 2016 gubernatorial vote in six of the eight state congressional districts. This means that the minimum possible number of valid signatures required was 160,199. Signatures needed to be filed with the secretary of state six months prior to the election on November 6, 2018. Six months prior to the election was May 6, 2018.

Damien Johnson proposed the initiative as multiple petitions. Petition 2018-110 and Petition 2018-115 were approved for circulation on February 8, 2017. Petition 2018-172 was approved on April 21, 2017. Signatures were not filed for the proposals.

See also

Suggest a link

• Missouri 2018 ballot measures
• 2018 ballot measures
• Laws governing the initiative process in Missouri

External links

• Petition 2018-110
• Petition 2018-115
• Petition 2018-172