Missouri NORML Lobby Day
The Missouri Affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws is sponsoring a February 27th Lobby Day
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Event: Lobby Day
Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Location: State Capitol building, Jefferson City, MO
Room: Second-floor west alcove in the Missouri Capitol building
Time: 11:00 am
Dan Viets, Missouri State NORML Coordinator, reminds everyone that the second NORML Lobby Day of the 2019 Session of the Missouri General Assembly takes place Wednesday, February 27, commencing at 11:00 a.m. in the second-floor west alcove in the Missouri Capitol building.
At least four legislators have said they will try to be with us tomorrow morning between 11:00 a.m. and noon to discuss pending legislation and how we can be effective in communicating with legislators. There are at least 15 bills which relate directly to marijuana law pending at this point before the General Assembly. There are two bills which would legalize adult use of marijuana, but both of those are sponsored by Democrats, which generally means they are not likely to go far. However, Republican State Representative Shamed Dogan has worked with us recently to draft a decriminalization bill which may actually have a chance of moving through the legislative process. Representative Dogan chairs a House committee on crime and if the bill is referred to his committee, it will, of course, certainly get a hearing.
There are many other important bills pending. These include a bill which would briefly restrict the initiative process. Many of us hope to see an initiative on the ballot in the near future which would legalize adult use in Missouri. We need to protect the initiative process in order to have the option to do so.
Representative Dogan’s bill restricting transferring seized assets to the federal government for forfeiture purposes was heard recently and passed out of committee. We certainly should support Representative Dogan in that effort.
Please be with us tomorrow, Wednesday, February 27, at 11:00 a.m. in the second-floor west alcove of the Missouri Capitol building. At 3:00 p.m., we will gather at Arris’ Pizza across the street from the Capitol to review our interactions with legislators and have some good food before heading home.
We hope all cannabis activists can join us. Thank you.
Dan Viets
Missouri NORML Coordinator