“WE DID IT!!! I am pleased to announce that on Sunday, our team submitted over 390,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office in Jefferson City!” said John Payne, Legal Missouri 2022 campaign manager in tweet to supporters. “This is more than double the amount required, so we’re very confident that even if many are deemed invalid, we’re going to qualify for the ballot this year.”
What’s next? The LM22 team is strategizing and planning for the campaign in the fall as the wait begins for the Secretary of State (SOS) to verify all of the submitted signatures. The normal turnaround time for signature verification should be within the next 90 days. A final verification notice from the SOS is expected to be received in August 2022.
Local election authorities will have the daunting task of verifying signatures, yet have the option to use the centralized Missouri Voter Registration System (MCVR). In order for a name to be qualified to appear on the petition, there must be a valid voter name, address and signature, however failure of any other information is not a reason to fail to certify a name as being qualified.
Once an adequate number of signatures are verified, the LM22 measure will be placed on the November 8, 2022 ballot. LM22 will immediately launch the next phase of the campaign to educate Missouri voters about this historic initiative which will allow Missouri to join 19 other states and districts that have already legalized adult-use cannabis.
“The time for action is not over, and you can join us in sharing our good news and encouraging your friends to vote YES at the ballot this year,” offers Payne in a May 13, 2022 Twitter post. “A new future is on the horizon and you have the opportunity to help Missouri become the 20th state to legalize and regulate adult-use marijuana!”
Payne says that “this effort has been years of work in the making, and I am grateful to all those who’ve believed in the mission and chosen to take action in pursuit of ending decades of cannabis prohibition. Together, we will get this before the voters THIS YEAR and enact one of the most important criminal justice reforms in Missouri history.”
With passage of Legal Missouri 2022 on November 8, 2022 by voters, the law will become effective within 30 days later on December 8, 2022. Adult-use sales would have to wait until 2023 as commercial licenses will need to be issued, but possession of cannabis by individuals would be legal upon enactment of the law.
Find out more about the law at the Legal Missouri 2022 website.