Missouri Advocates File Ballot Initiative to Legalize Cannabis

Advocates in Missouri have filed a ballot initiative to legalize cannabis for adults in the state and now must collect 175,000 signatures to put the issue to voters during next year’s midterm elections. The proposed constitutional amendment includes a 6% retail tax and the option for local governments to collect their own 3% tax on sales.

The initiative was filed last week by Legal Missouri 2022. The organization’s Campaign Manager, John Payne, said there is “widespread support among Missouri voters to regulate, tax and legalize marijuana.”

“The status quo has allowed an unsafe, illegal market to thrive in Missouri, while preventing law enforcement from truly prioritizing the fight against violent crime. Now is the time for Missouri to join the 19 other states to have successfully regulated and taxed adult use marijuana, bringing millions in new funding for vital state services.”—Payne in a press release