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Missouri Residents Support Cannabis Legalization

62% of Missouri adults in support of cannabis legalization

By WilliamPublished 2 years ago 5 min read
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Missouri Residents Support Cannabis Legalization
Photo by Richard T on Unsplash

Since its legalization in October 2020, medical marijuana sales in Missouri have surpassed $200 million. In Missouri, about 17% of medical marijuana certificates are for mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Every day, dispensaries such as Green Releaf in Columbia see hundreds of patients. Patients may visit any dispensary in Missouri and place an order with one of the company's "bud-tenders" after getting a medicinal marijuana card.

According to a recent survey by SurveyUSA, 62 percent of Missouri citizens (adults) say cannabis should be legalized in the state, while 25% disagree and 13% are unclear. Democrats were the most supportive of the measures, with 76% in favor and 14% opposing. The reforms were supported by nearly half of Republicans polled (49%) and opposed by 38%. Independent voters supported legalizing 66% to 20%.

Legalization was more popular among those aged 18 to 49, with 71 percent in favor, 18 percent against, and 11 percent undecided; among those aged 50 and over, 53 percent supported the changes, with 31 percent opposed and 15 percent unclear.

Both White and Black Missourians supported legalization, with 62 percent in favor, 27 percent opposing, and 11 percent undecided. Fourteen percent of African-Americans oppose the measures, while 23 percent are undecided. Support for legalization was assessed at 40% among respondents who described themselves as "extremely conservative," with 51% opposing and 9% undecided. Support for the reforms was strongest among self-described liberals, with 79 percent in favor, 11 percent opposing, and 10% undecided. With 67 percent in favor, 18 percent opposed, and 14 percent undecided among moderates, and 53 percent in favor, 32 percent opposed, and 15 percent undecided among conservatives.

Missouri has legalized marijuana

You must register as a patient with the Missouri Medicinal Marijuana Program in order to legally acquire, consume, and possess medical marijuana in Missouri (MMMP). The MMMP will offer you a Missouri medical card once you've completed the registration procedure. The MMMP governs medical marijuana facilities in Missouri, such as dispensaries and producers, in addition to enabling patient access to medicinal cannabis.

Missouri's Medical Marijuana Program, often known as the Missouri MMP or just MMMP, has been in effect since 2020. Patients can obtain cannabis therapy choices through the MMMP if they have a verified patient ID (MMMP Card). Missouri voters chose by a 65 percent majority on November 6, 2018, to legalize medicinal marijuana for state-wide patient access by approving Amendment 2. The next month, the bill entered into force. Missouri's medical marijuana program (MMMP) was now in the works, with a well-defined set of marijuana regulations acting as the legal foundation.

The rest of 2019 and the first part of 2020 were spent on a winding path of advisory groups, law modifications, and product licensing. While the Covid Pandemic posed a big barrier to Missouri's widely expected cannabis business, the state's medical-marijuana program was formally inaugurated on October 17th, 2020, with the first dispensary sale of cannabis-based treatment. In October 2021, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced that the number of patients registered with the MMMP had increased to roughly 136,000. In addition, the Missouri medicinal marijuana program has allowed the operation of 152 dispensaries.

Missouri Medical Marijuana Laws

While receiving medical cannabis therapy, as a law-abiding Missouri state citizen, you should be aware of both your rights and responsibilities. Some of them are stated below:

Every 30 days, you can purchase up to 4 ounces of marijuana. If your treatment needs a greater dosage, the Department of Health may establish a different purchase restriction that does not exceed a 60-day supply suggested by your doctor. You do not, however, have the legal right to hold anything in excess of the limit.

If you have a Missouri patient cultivation card, you can grow your own marijuana at home, according to state regulations. This card is in addition to your usual medical marijuana ID card, and it will cost you an additional $102.30 to get. You can cultivate up to 6 blooming plants at a time with a Missouri patient cultivation certificate.

Possession of a controlled drug, such as hashish or marijuana concentrates, in Missouri is governed by the same Schedule I drug laws. As a result, whether your medical treatment involves hashish-based goods OR products manufactured from any other sort of marijuana concentrate, be aware that the sanctions for illegal usage will stay the same.

State-approved dispensaries are the only places where you may acquire medicinal marijuana. Personal sales are strictly illegal by law, and you should avoid participating in them in any manner, shape, or form.

Any sort of marijuana treatment does not need the use of marijuana paraphernalia (such as bongs, tobacco blunts, or rolling paper). You have no legal justification for being caught in possession of such an item, let alone utilizing it to make your own products.

Finally, out-of-state medical cards cannot be used to acquire medicinal marijuana in Missouri.

Final Takeaway

It is clear from the survey that the majority of the adult residents in Missouri support marijuana legalization. If we keep the people, who are unclear whether to agree or disagree, aside, the number of adults who opposed the idea of legalization is significantly less. This is the ongoing trend not just in Missouri but the entire United States.

In the future, more states are expected to legalize medicinal and recreational marijuana. More governments are evaluating the potential tax revenue gains from cannabis sales as public approval grows and the number of marijuana stocks proliferates. The United States Congress is likewise working to pass comprehensive cannabis reform at the federal level. In April 2022, the United States House of Representatives enacted a measure that will legalize cannabis across the country. However, it is improbable that the bill will be voted on in the United States Senate. Many cannabis supporters feel it is only a matter of time until marijuana is legalized, or at the very least decriminalized, across the country.

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About the Creator

William

Challenging cannabis stereotypes through content. Embracing my passion for cannabis, I aim to share compelling narratives from within the industry. Find me at quickmedcards.com.

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