Brandon Dunn
Fair Access Missouri has filed an initiative petition with the Secretary of State that would legalize the adult use of cannabis for persons 21 years of age and older.
Greenway spoke to Eric McSwain, President of Fair Access Missouri about the new IP and what it could mean for Missourians.
“First and foremost, we want to actually make the medical program better. We’ve seen that mistake in other states where adult use comes around and all of a sudden the medical program suffers or is made to suffer by additional policies, we want to avoid that.”
The IP would amend Article 14 of the state’s constitution, which legalized medical marijuana and was passed in 2018, to allow for and set the framework for a regulated adult use market in Missouri.
“We want to create a more open market. Where our normal market forces can sort of blend in and do their work in order to set prices, supply, demand, all those sorts of things. We think that’s to the benefit of consumers, patients first, and also adult use consumers – because they’re going to see that competition is going to force higher quality at lower prices,” McSwain explained. “(This is) a leveling of the playing field, instead of needing six figures to try and win a license.”
Regulatory and licensing authority for the adult use market would be granted to the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control within the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
“We think that’s a good move because Alcohol and Tobacco already do this sort of thing. They already know how to regulate a market, it’s part of their entire reason for being,” McSwain said.
The proposal sets possession limits for legal residents at eight ounces of dried, unprocessed flower; up to 28 grams of concentrated resin or extract; and up to 4,000 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol in cannabis-infused products.
The IP would also allow for the cultivation of up to 25 square feet of flowering canopy, and while home cultivators would not be allowed to sell directly to individuals, they would be allowed to sell to a licensed cultivation, manufacturing, or retail facility, but would be required to meet the same laboratory testing and certification standards as the cannabis grown by facilities throughout the state.
The IP also dictates that “there shall be no limit on the number of licenses issued by the division.”
“We are going to maximize the amount of regulated market sales that occur and thus bring more tax revenue to the state of Missouri,” McSwain said.
Fair Access Missouri’s petition calls for a retail tax rate of 7.5%.
An important note is that in addition to the regulatory framework, the IP also contains a significant proposition for social reform, allowing for individuals convicted of nonviolent crimes who meet certain criteria to file for immediate release and expungement.
You can follow Fair Access Missouri and learn more about the organization online at www.fairaccessmo.com.
Read the full IP submission below
What do you think?