Missouri NORML is organizing a trek up to the Jefferson City State Capitol building for the last Lobby Day of this spring 2019 legislative session.
Cannabis enthusiasts and supporters are invited to help us fight for your cannabis rights. Marijuana legislation is moving. There are several bills affecting marijuana consumers and business.
When you to attend NORML’s Lobby Day events you’ll learn how to make a significant impact on legislative efforts to expand and normalize cannabis legislation. Missouri NORML members will attempt to influence the direction of bills in the 2019 Session of the Missouri General Assembly next Wednesday, April 24, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at the beautiful Missouri Capitol Building in Jefferson City!
Here’s a run down from NORML State Coordinator, Dan Viets, JD, about pending legislation that is in play for this session:
SB 341 sponsored by Rep. Ron Hicks would require the Department of Health and Senior Services to automatically pursue expungement of marijuana possession misdemeanors and city ordinance violations for medical marijuana patients. This bill has passed the House and is pending before the Senate.
HB 824 sponsored by Rep. Rick Francis is a bill which would greatly expand the “Hemp Pilot Program” established by the General Assembly a couple of years ago. Under the federal Farm Bill, this bill would allow Missouri farmers to cultivate hemp for agricultural and industrial purposes on a large scale.
HB 829 sponsored by Rep. David Wood of Versailles would take money intended for veterans’ healthcare and other benefits under Amendment 2 and instead use that money to pay the state’s legal bills for litigation relating to medical marijuana. We are strongly opposed to this bill and we are joined by Missouri veterans’ organizations.
HCS for HB 1095 is sponsored by Rep. Shamed Dogan. It would reduce the penalties for marijuana possession up to 35 grams, regardless of prior convictions, to a fine only, with no jail possible. It would also encourage prosecutors to make greater use of deferred prosecution and diversion of cases out of the criminal justice system, especially marijuana possession cases up to 100 grams.
SB 5 sponsored by Sen. David Sater is a terrible bill. It would make it much harder for Missouri citizens to place any issue on the ballot and much harder to pass a Constitutional amendment like Amendment 2. Many of us hope to see adult use legalization of marijuana placed on the Missouri ballot within the next few years. If SB 5 passes, it will be almost impossible to do that.
SB 6, also sponsored by Sen. Sater, would ban the manufacture and sale of many forms of medical marijuana edible products including any product “designed to appeal to children” as well as any product in the form of a “human, animal or fruit”. Many fear that products like brownies or cookies or soft drinks infused with medical cannabis would be illegal under this bill.
“Please join us next Wednesday, April 24, at 11:00 am. in Hearing Room 2 in the basement of the Missouri Capitol Building in Jefferson City,” offers Dan Viets. Viets wants cannabis supporters to “discuss this legislation with some members of our legislature and to gather with others from around the state to lobby on behalf of rational marijuana law reform!”
NORML will see you in Jefferson City on Wednesday!