Missouri Voters Approve Medical Marijuana Amendment

MISSOURI — Missourians voted on Tuesday to approve the legalization of medical marijuana, passing Amendment 2 and defeating two other medical marijuana measures on the ballot. Missouri now joins 31 other states that have passed similar laws in recent years.

"It was a historic day for Missouri patients and veterans," said Jack Cardetti, whose group, New Approach Missouri, was Amendment 2's primary backer. "Missourians suffering from cancer, epilepsy, PTSD and other debilitating illnesses can now finally work with their doctors to determine if medical marijuana is an appropriate treatment option."

Missouri voters had three separate chances to legalize marijuana in some form on Tuesday's ballot. None of the ballot initiatives would fully decriminalize the drug, but all would allow patients with chronic or terminal heath conditions to use and posses small amounts of it.

Here's a breakdown of the three ballot initiatives that went before Show-Me State voters yesterday and their key differences.

(SEE ALSO: Missouri Midterms 2018: Election Results And Up-To-Date Coverage)

Amendment 2

Supported by New Approach Missouri, Amendment 2 is the most lenient of the proposed laws and would allow patients with any debilitating medical condition to use marijuana under a doctor's supervision. Which illnesses would qualify would largely be left up to doctors.

"Doctors and patients should be in charge of medical decisions – not politicians and government bureaucrats," New Approach Missouri argues.

The amendment would impose a 4 percent tax on marijuana sales in the state, with proceeds going to fund Missouri veterans programs, in addition to paying the program's own administrative costs. It is estimated to generate about $18 million annually for state programs and $6 million for local governments, and would allow some limited growing of marijuana at home.

Amendment 2 closely mirrors medical marijuana programs in other states. Among its supporters are the Missouri VFW and other veterans groups. It has also garnered endorsements from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis American, Springfield News-Leader and other state newspapers.

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Amendment 3

Next on the list is Amendment 3, which New Approach Missouri opposes. This proposal would also legalize medical marijuana, but would impose a much higher 15 percent tax on its sale. That money would be used to fund cancer research, and the tax is expected to generate about $66 million annually if the amendment passes.

Springfield attorney Brad Bradshaw is the primary proponent of Amendment 3, which would put him in near total control of the program.

"Unlike our grassroots campaign, Amendment 3 is funded by a single wealthy backer, Springfield personal injury lawyer Brad Bradshaw," New Approach Missouri writes. "He’s spending millions to pass Amendment 3, which would put a 15 percent tax on medical marijuana — twice as high as any other medical marijuana tax rate nationwide. It would also place Bradshaw himself in charge of marijuana licensing and allow him to direct the taxpayer dollars — paid by patients — to a research board that he would appoint."

New Approach says the Missouri Department of Health would be in charge of administering their program if Amendment 2 amendment passes.

Bradshaw has sued to remove the competing measures from the ballot, but so far to no success. If Amendment 3 passes, the program would have very little government oversight. Bradshaw says that's a good thing; others have expressed doubts.

Also raising some concern is a provision of the amendment that would allow Bradshaw to use eminent domain — the government's power to seize private property — to acquire land for his cancer research center.

"I find several provisions in Amendment 3 very troubling," Republican state Sen. Brian Munzlinger told the Missouri Times. "Most concerning is language that threatens private property owners by abusing eminent domain laws and actually expanding the power of eminent domain in our Missouri Constitution for a research campus."

Amendment 3 would not allow patients to grow their own marijuana at home. They would have to purchase it exclusively from Bradshaw-licensed dispensaries.

Proposition C

Finally, Proposition C would similarly remove prohibitions on small amounts of marijuana with a doctor's note, and impose a 2 percent tax that would fund veterans services, drug treatment and early childhood education programs. It would also give more control to local governments to license (or reject) marijuana dispensaries.

Rather than amending the state's constitution like Amendments 2 and 3, Prop C would make statutory changes to state law. Proponents say the proposal would be more flexible than a constitutional amendment, which can be hard to revise. If passed, it is expected to generate about $10 million a year.

If all the measures pass, the one with the largest number of "yes" votes will go into effect, so voters should feel free to vote for multiple options if they find them acceptable.

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