Marijuana

Missouri voters have the opportunity in the November 2022 election to legalize recreational marijuana statewide for adults over 21. How did that happen and what are the implications for Kansas residents if the measure passes?

Voters will decide this fall whether to legalize recreational marijuana in Missouri. But critics have concerns about the amendment's expungement provisions, and the fact that it will allow the state to continue capping business licenses.

If passed in November, Amendment 3 would legalize adult-use marijuana in Missouri. But advocates say that some specifics in the amendment are cause for worry and plan to fight against the measure.

Missourians legalized medical marijuana use in 2018. Now, recreational use will be up to voters in the upcoming general election.

Ward 3 Alderman Kent Randle has proposed an amendment that would wipe out those requirements and reduce the distance from 1,500 to 100 feet.

Another initiative petition that would have established ranked-choice voting has already fallen short of signatures needed to appear on the ballot.

The caps have become a point of controversy, with critics saying they’ve encouraged a monopoly in the medical marijuana program and create the appearance of corruption.

Black entrepreneurs — many of whom struggled to get awarded medical marijuana dispensary licenses in Missouri — want to see more entrepreneurs of marginalized backgrounds break into the cannabis industry.

More than 2,000 applications were submitted for medical marijuana licenses in 2019, but fewer than 400 were ultimately awarded. And while the state doesn’t track the race of those who got a license, people in the burgeoning industry say few went to Black-owned businesses.

St. Louis Alderman Bret Narayan sponsored the bill that successfully legalized possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana in the city.