Missouri Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)
Missouri Amendment 3 | |
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Election date November 8, 2022 | |
Topic Marijuana | |
Status Approved | |
Type Constitutional amendment | Origin Citizens |
Missouri Amendment 3, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative, was on the ballot in Missouri as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 8, 2022. The measure was approved.
A “yes” vote supported amending the Missouri Constitution to:
|
A “no” vote opposed amending the Missouri Constitution, and the sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes will remain prohibited under current law. |
Election results
Missouri Amendment 3 |
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Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
1,092,432 | 53.10% | |||
No | 965,020 | 46.90% |
Overview
What does Amendment 3 change about marijuana laws in Missouri?
The initiative is designed to legalize the purchase, possession, consumption, use, delivery, manufacturing, and sale of marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of 21; allow individuals convicted of non-violent marijuana-related offenses to petition to be released from incarceration and/or have their records expunged; and enact a 6 percent tax on the sale of marijuana.[1][2]
What was the status of marijuana in Missouri before the election?
Medical marijuana was legalized in Missouri when voters approved of Amendment 2 in 2018. Amendment 2 legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, taxed marijuana sales at 4 percent, and required tax revenue to be spent on healthcare services for veterans. Prior to 2018, medical marijuana was not legalized for use or possession in Missouri.
Prior to the 2022 election, for recreational marijuana, the possession of 10 grams or less of cannabis was decriminalized. Possession of 10 grams or less was punishable by a fine only, but the offense remained a criminal misdemeanor. Prior to the 2022 election, recreational marijuana was not legal in Missouri.
What was the status of recreational marijuana in the United States?
- See also: Background
Going into the election, 19 states and Washington, D.C., had legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes.[3][4][5]
- In 11 states and D.C., the ballot initiative process was used to legalize marijuana.
- In one state, the legislature referred a measure to the ballot for voter approval.
- In seven states, bills to legalize marijuana were enacted into law.
Marijuana legalization measures were on the 2022 ballot in Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The measures were approved in Maryland and Missouri and were defeated in Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Who was behind the campaigns?
Legal Missouri 2022, the campaign registered in support of Amendment 3, raised $8.77 million. The top donors to the PAC were New Growth Horizon LLC, BD Health Ventures LLC, Green Four Ventures LLC, Good Day Farm Missouri LLC, and Organic Remides MO Inc.[6]
Save Our State was the campaign registered in opposition to Amendment 3.[7]
Measure design
Click on the arrows (▼) below for summaries of the different provisions of the constitutional amendment.
Marijuana legalization: Establishes the legal use of marijuana
Establishes that marijuana and marijuana accessories are legal for the use, possession, and purchase of people over the age of 21.
This provision is not intended to allow for the public use of marijuana, the driving of any motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana, as a passenger within a motor vehicle while it is being operated, the use of marijuana in the workplace, or those under the age of 21 using marijuana.
Licensing: Establishes regulations regarding the licensing of marijuana facilities
The department shall issue, at minimum, the same number of licenses for comprehensive marijuana facilities, comprehensive marijuana-infused product facilities, and comprehensive marijuana dispensary facilities as were authorized for medical marijuana cultivation facilities as of December 7, 2022. If comprehensive facility licenses become available because the total number of licenses in any respective category falls lower than the minimum requirement, the department will award by lottery at least 50 percent of any new licenses to satisfy the minimum requirement to applicants who are owners of a marijuana microbusiness facility that have been in operation for at least a year, are in good standing, and qualify for a license.
An entity may apply for and obtain only one license to operate a marijuana microbusiness facility. The owner of the microbusiness cannot be the owner of another marijuana facility, but may apply for a license. If granted, the owner must transition and surrender the microbusiness license.
Applicants for marijuana microbusiness licenses shall be majority owned by: (1) those with a net worth of less than $250,000 and have had an income below 250% of the federal poverty level for at least three of the 10 calendar years prior to applying for the microbusiness license, or (2) have a valid service connected disability card issued by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, or (3) be a person who has been, or has had a parent, guardian, or spouse arrested for, prosecuted for, or convicted of a non-violent marijuana offense (except for offenses of providing marijuana to a minor), or (4) reside in a ZIP code area where 30% of more of the population lives below the federal poverty level, where the rate of unemployment is higher than 50%, the historic rate of marijuana incarcerations is 50% higher than the rate of the entire state, or (5) graduated from a school district that was unaccredited.
The department may restrict the aggregate number of licenses granted for marijuana microbusiness facilities, however, provided that the number not be under a certain number of licenses in each U.S. congressional district in the state of Missouri. Future changes to the boundaries of the districts shall have no impact on microbusiness license numbers or distribution.
The measure provides for the issuance of other type of licenses: a license to allow only for the transportation and storage or marijuana, and a license to allow for scientific research or education.
An entity may apply for a license for a marijuana cultivation facility, marijuana dispensary facility, marijuana-infused product facility, marijuana microbusiness facility. These facilities will be subject to regulations. The denial of a license or license renewal shall be appealable.
Any medical marijuana facility holding an active facility license may convert their license to a comprehensive marijuana license.
An entity or entities under substantially common control may not be the owner of more than ten percent of the total marijuana cultivation, dispensary, or manufacturing licenses, repealing the provision that no more than three of these licenses be issued to the same entity or entities under common control.
Any violation of the measure, including procedure that involves suspending or revoking a medical marijuana license, must include a cure period of no less than 30 days prior to the suspension or revoking of the license, unless there is a credible and imminent threat to health and public safety.
The department has the authority to provide additional types of classes or licenses to operate marijuana-related businesses allow only for transportation or delivery of marijuana, or are intended for scientific research and education.
Annually, a public report shall be shall be made and transmitted to the governor, general assembly, and general public detailing data for each type of marijuana license and facilities.
While not a prerequisite to participate in the license lottery, every license applicant will submit to the department a voluntary plan to promote or encourage participation in the regulated marijuana industry by people from communities that have been disproportionally impacted by marijuana prohibition.
No owner of a marijuana facility should have a disqualifying felony offense.
Applicants for a marijuana cultivation facility will be charged a non-refundable fee of $12,000 per license application or renewal for all applicants filing an application within 3 years of the effective date of the measure, and shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of $5,000 per license application or renewal thereafter. Once granted, the department shall charge each licensee an annual fee of $25,000 per facility license. Application and license fees shall be increased or decreased each year by the percentage of increase or decrease from the end of the previous calendar year of the Consumer Price Index, or successor index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, or its successor agency.
Applicants for a marijuana dispensary facility will be charged a non-refundable fee of $7,000 per license application or renewal for each applicant filing an application within 3 years of the effective date of this section, and shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of $3,000 per license application or renewal thereafter. Once granted, the department shall charge each licensee an annual fee of $10,000 per facility license. Application and license fees shall be increased or decreased each year by the percentage of increase or decrease from the end of the previous calendar year of the Consumer Price Index, or successor index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, or its successor agency.
Applicants for a marijuana-infused products manufacturing facility will be charged a non-refundable fee of $7,000 per license application or renewal for each applicant filing an application within 3 years of the effective date of this section and shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of $3,000 per license application or renewal thereafter. Once granted, the department shall charge each licensee an annual fee of $10,000 per facility license. Application and license fees shall be increased or decreased each year by the percentage of increase or decrease from the end of the previous calendar year of the Consumer Price Index, or successor index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, or its successor agency.
An entity may apply to obtain only one license for a marijuana microbusiness facility (which may be either a microbusiness dispensary facility or a microbusiness wholesale facility). A marijuana microbusiness facility licensee may engage in all of the activities allowed under the license or it may apply for and engage in a subset of the activities allowed if the applicant or license holder so chooses. A microbusiness wholesale facility may cultivate, process, manufacture, transport and sell marijuana and marijuana-infused products to any other marijuana microbusiness facility. A microbusiness dispensary facility licensee may acquire from any other microbusiness facility, process, package, deliver, and sell marijuana and marijuana-infused products to any other marijuana microbusiness facility, or directly to qualified patients, their primary caregiver, or consumers. A license for a marijuana microbusiness facility is valid for 3 years from its date of issuance, and is renewable except for good cause. The applicant will be charged a fee of $1,500 per license application, and each subsequent license renewal application thereafter. Any applicant that meets the criteria to apply for a marijuana microbusiness facility license but is not chosen by the lottery system may have their application fee refunded. Once granted, the department shall charge each licensee an annual fee of $1,500 per facility license, but there shall be no annual fee assessed for the first year of licensure. Application and license fees shall be increased or decreased each year be the percentage of increase or decrease from the end of the previous calendar year of the Consumer Price Index, or successor index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, or its successor agency.
Tracking: Establishes a “seed-to-sale” tracking of marijuana
Transportation: Establishes regulations regarding the transportation of marijuana
Any certified or licensed entity may be allowed to transport their own marijuana products in compliance with department rules and regulations.
Any raw biomass of marijuana or marijuana products imported from out-of-state shall be received only by a licensed cultivation facility, while all batch oil and infused marijuana products shall be received only by a licensed manufacturing facility.
If federal law or regulations are amended to allow for the interstate commerce of marijuana into and out of state, the measure remains in full effect unless preempted by another federal law or regulation.
Lottery: Establishes a lottery to grant certain licenses
The measure also establishes a lottery for comprehensive facility licenses, certificate holders, and marijuana microbusiness licenses. To become eligible for the facility license lottery process, the owner cannot have plead guilty to a disqualifying felony.
In developing a lottery selection process, the department may work or consult with other public agencies with relevant experience.
Advertising and marketing: Regulations regarding the marketing and advertising of marijuana
Selling or packaging marijuana in a misleading manner can come with a penalty of $5,000 and a loss of license.
Any regulations regarding the advertising or promotion of marijuana sales will be no more stringent than regulations regarding the promotion or advertising of alcohol sales.
The department may issue requirements that packaging and labels shall not be made attractive to children, and that products should be sold in resealable, child-resistant packaging.
Personal ownership regulations: Regulations regarding the personal ownership of marijuana or marijuana plants
Under this measure a person may obtain a license or registration card to cultivate up to six flowering plants, six nonflowering plants (over 14 inches tall) and up to six clones (plants under 14 inches tall).
No individual shall be the primary caregiver of more than six qualifying patients. No primary caregiver cultivating marijuana for more than one qualifying patient of medical marijuana may exceed a total of 24 flowering plants. Primary caregivers cultivating marijuana for more than one patient may cultivate each respective qualifying patient's flowering plants in a single, enclosed locked facility.
Possession limits of medical marijuana: department may set a limit on behalf of a patient during a thirty day period, provided that this limit is not less than six ounces of dried, unprocessed marijuana. Possession between the legal limit and twice the legal limit includes an administrative penalty of up to $200 and loss of patient identification card for up to a year. Penalty for possession of up to twice the legal limit has changed from imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of up to $2,000 to an infraction.
Taxation: Taxation regarding marijuana
No more than 2 percent of collection costs are retained when taxing marijuana, instead of 5 percent.
The governing body of any local government may impose an additional sales tax to retail sales of marijuana that cannot exceed 3 percent.
Facilities: Regulations regarding marijuana facilities
Indoor marijuana cultivation facilities utilizing artificial light may be limited by the department to 30,000 square feet of flowering plant canopy space. Each outdoor facility utilizing natural light may be limited by the department to 2,800 flowering plants. Each greenhouse facility using a combination of artificial and natural lighting 2,800 flowering plants or 30,000 square feet of flowering canopy space.
The department may establish regulations regarding lighting, physical security, and alarm requirements for marijuana facilities.
No new marijuana facility shall be located within 1,000 feet of an elementary school, daycare center, or church.
In the case of freestanding marijuana facilities, the distance between the marijuana facility and a school, daycare, or church must be measured from the wall closest in proximity to the school, daycare, or church. For a facility attached to a larger building, the distance will be measured from the exit of the facility to the other building. Measurements will be made along the shortest path that can be lawfully travelled by foot.
The only local ordinances or regulations that are binding on a medical facility are those of the local government where the medical facility is physically located.
A marijuana facility may not cultivate, manufacture, or display marijuana or marijuana products outside of the facility.
A marijuana facility shall secure every entrance to the facility so that the access to marijuana is restricted only to employees and other permitted persons.
Law enforcement: Regulations regarding law enforcement
Registered qualifying patients on bond for pre-trial release, probation, or other form of supervised release shall not be prohibited from using a lawful marijuana product as a term of condition for release, probation, or parole. A family court participant who requires treatment for a qualified medical condition shall not be required to refrain from using medical marijuana as a term of completion of the family court program.
Nurse practitioners: Permits nurse practitioners to recommend medical marijuana
Testing: Regulations regarding testing of marijuana and marijuana products
The department may issue rules for an independent testing and certification program requiring licensees to test marijuana and marijuana products using one or more independent and impartial testing laboratories.
The department shall issue rules to provide for the certification and standards of marijuana testing facilities.
No marijuana testing facility shall be owned by an entity under control, ownership, or management as a marijuana facility.
If federal rules or regulations change to provide for the interstate importing and exporting of marijuana, and marijuana or marijuana products imported into Missouri will be subject to the same testing requirements of the state.
A marijuana testing facility shall not be subject to civil or criminal prosecution for providing laboratory testing services that relate to marijuana.
Locations: Regulations regarding the locations of where legal marijuana can be used or possessed
Marijuana or marijuana products/accessories cannot be possessed or used on the grounds of a public or private preschool, elementary or secondary school, institution of higher education, in a school bus, or on the grounds of a correctional facility.
An entity is allowed to prohibit the use or possession of marijuana on private property, except in cases where a tenant may lawfully use marijuana by means other than smoking.
Marijuana cannot be consumed in a public place, other than the location that are cleared for public marijuana use as defined in this measure.
Smoking marijuana in a location where smoking tobacco is prohibited is also prohibited under this measure.
A person who smokes medical marijuana in a public place, other than licensed for such activity, is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $100.
Expungement: Allows for the petition of expungement of certain marijuana related offenses
Any person currently incarcerated serving a sentence for certain marijuana offenses may petition for release from prison or parole and probation and have their records expunged.
Local control: Regulations regarding local control of marijuana use and facilities
A local government may prohibit the operation of all marijuana facilities located within its jurisdiction, either through a ballot question or a citizen petition. A local government may also repeal an existing ban through a referral of a ballot question to the voters by the governing body or a citizen-initiated petition.
Local governments may enact ordinances governing the time, place, and manner of operations of marijuana facilities, as well as regulating the public smoking or consumption of marijuana products.
Discrimination: Provisions relating to discrimination regarding marijuana usage or involvement with marijuana facilities
An employer may not discriminate against a person in hiring, termination, or any form of employment for any of the following: if the person has a medical marijuana identification card, if they use lawful marijuana off of the employer’s premises during nonworking hours, as well as a positive drug test for marijuana.
Employers may, however, discipline, terminate, or make an employment decision against an employee under the influence of marijuana while working.
Unless failure to do so would cause an employer to lose a monetary or licensing-related benefit under federal law, an employer may not discriminate against a person in hiring, termination, or any term or condition relating to employment if the discrimination is based off of: (1) a person's status as a qualifying patient with a medical marijuana identification card, (2) a positive drug test for marijuana, unless the person used or was in possession of marijuana on the premises of employment or during the hours of employment. This does not apply to an employee who is in a position where the legal use of marijuana will affect their ability to perform job-related responsibilities or the safety of others.
Any attorney shall not be subject to disciplinary action for involvement with licensed marijuana facilities, or counseling or assisting a client involved with marijuana facilities, or counseling a client involved in an activity that is no longer subject to criminal penalties under this measure.
A person shall not be denied adoption, custody, or visitation rights solely for the conduct that is permitted in this measure.
Other regulations: Other regulations regarding marijuana
All public records produced or maintained under this measure are subject to provisions of the Missouri Sunshine Law.
Within 60 days of the effective date of the measure, the department will appoint a chief equity officer to assist in the development and implementation of the programs to inform the public of the opportunities provided that the measure will establish.
Neither the department nor any governmental body shall restrict the usage of marijuana or marijuana-infused products based on THC content.
No person shall extract resins from marijuana using dangerous materials or combustible gases without an appropriate license.
Identification cards for medical marijuana are valid for three years instead of 12 months. The fee for the card is $50 instead of $100.
When submitting fingerprints for a background check, unless otherwise required by law, no individual shall be required to submit fingerprints more than once.
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was follows:[2]
“ | Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
State governmental entities estimate initial costs of $3.1 million, initial revenues of at least $7.9 million, annual costs of $5.5 million, and annual revenues of at least $40.8 million. Local governments are estimated to have annual costs of at least $35,000 and annual revenues of at least $13.8 million. [8] |
” |
Ballot summary
The official ballot summary was as follows:[2]
“ | A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to remove state prohibitions on the purchase, possession, consumption, use, delivery, manufacture, and sale of marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of twenty-one.
The amendment would also allow individuals with certain marijuana-related offenses to petition for release from prison or parole and probation and have their records expunged; along with imposing a six percent tax on the retail price of recreational marijuana. A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution and the sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes will remain prohibited under current law. Medical marijuana would remain unchanged. If passed, this measure will impose a 6 percent tax on the retail price of recreational marijuana.[8] |
” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Missouri Constitution
The ballot measure amended Section 1 of Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution, and add Section 2. The following underlined text would be added and struck-through text would be deleted:[2]
Note: Use your mouse to scroll over the text below to see the full text.
Text of Section 1: Section 1. Right to Access Medical Marijuana 1. Purposes This section is intended to permit state-licensed physicians and nurse practitioners to recommend marijuana for medical purposes to patients with serious illnesses and medical conditions. The section allows patients with qualifying medical conditions the right to discuss freely with their physicians and nurse practitioners the possible benefits of medical marijuana use, the right of their physicians and nurse practitioners to provide professional advice concerning the same, and the right to use medical marijuana for treatment under the supervision of a physician and nurse practitioner. This section is intended to make only those changes to Missouri laws that are necessary to protect patients, their primary caregivers, and their physicians and nurse practitioners from civil and criminal penalties, and to allow for the limited legal production, distribution, sale and purchase of marijuana for medical use. This section is not intended to change current civil and criminal laws governing the use of marijuana for nonmedical purposes. The section does not allow for the public use of marijuana and driving under the influence of marijuana. 2. Definitions (1) “Administer” means the direct application of marijuana to a Qualifying Patient by way of any of the following methods: (a) Ingestion of capsules, teas, oils, and other marijuana-infused products;
(b) Vaporization or smoking of dried flowers, buds, plant material, extracts, (2) "Church" means a permanent building primarily and regularly used as a place of religious worship. (3) "Daycare" means a child-care facility, as defined by section 210.201, RSMo., or successor provisions, that is licensed by the state of Missouri.
(7)“Infused Preroll” means a consumable or smokable marijuana product. generally consisting of: (1) a wrap or paper, (2) dried flower, buds, and/or plant material, and (3) a concentrate. oil or other type of marijuana extract, either within or on the surface of the product. Infused prerolls may or may not include a filter or crutch at the base of the product.
(10) “Medical Facility” means any medical marijuana cultivation facility, medical marijuana dispensary facility, or medical marijuana-infused products manufacturing facility, as defined in this section.
(16) “Nurse practitioner” means and individual who is licensed and in good standing as an advanced registered nurse, or successor designation, under Missouri law. (17) “Owner means an individual who has a financial (other than security interest, lien, or encumbrance) or voting interest in ten percent or greater of a marijuna facility.
(20) Preroll means a consumable or smokable marijuana product, generally consisting of: (1) a wrap or paper and (2) dried flower. buds. and/or plant material. Prerolls may or may not include a filter or crutch at the base of the product.
(a) Cancer; (b) Epilepsy, (c) Glaucoma; (d) Intractable migraines unresponsive to other treatment; (e) A chronic medical condition that causes severe, persistent pain or persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to those associated with multiple sclerosis, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, and Tourette’s syndrome; (f) Debilitating psychiatric disorders including but not limited to post-traumatic stress disorder if diagnosed b a state licensed psychiatrist; (g) Human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome; (h) A chronic medical condition that is normally treated with a prescription medication that could lead to physical or psychological dependence, when a physician or nurse practitioner determines that medical use of marijuana could be effective in treating that condition and would serve as a safer alternative to the prescription medication; (i) Any terminal illness; (j) In the professional judgment of a physician or nurse practitioner, any other chronic, debilitating or other medical condition, including, but not limited to, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, Huntington’s disease, autism, neuropathies, sickle cell anemia, agitation of Alzheimer's disease, cachexia, and wasting syndrome.
(24) "Unduly burdensome" (when referring to a facility licensee or certificate holder) means the measures necessary to comply with the rules or ordinances adopted pursuant to this section subject the party to such a high investment or expense of money, time, or anv other resource or asset that a reasonably prudent businessperson would not operate the facility; and. (when referring to qualifying patients, primary caregivers, physicians; nurse practitioners or other party) “unduly burdensome” means the measures necessary to comply with the rules or ordinances adopted pursuant to this section undermine the purpose of this section. 3. Creating Patient Access to Medical Marijuana (1) In carrying out the implementation of this section, the Department shall have the authority to: (a) Grant or refuse state licenses and certifications for the cultivation, manufacture, dispensing, sale, testing, tracking, and transportation of marijuana and marijuana infused products for medical use as provided by this section and general law; suspend, impose an authorized fine, restrict, or revoke such licenses and certifications upon a violation of this section, general law, or a rule promulgated pursuant to this section; and impose any administrative penalty authorized by this section or any general law enacted or rule promulgated pursuant to this section,so long as any procedure related to a suspension or revocation includes a reasonable cure period, not less than thirty days, prior to the suspension or revocation, except in instances where there is a credible and imminent threat to public health or public safety.
(b) Promulgate rules and emergency rules necessary for the proper regulation and control of the cultivation, manufacture, dispensing, and sale of marijuana for medical use and for the enforcement of this section so long as patient access is not restricted unreasonably and such rules are reasonably necessary for patient safety or to restrict access to only licensees and Qualifying Patients.
(c) Develop such forms, certificates, licenses, identification cards, and applications as are necessary for, or reasonably related to, the administration of this section or any of the rules promulgated under this section.
(d) Require a seed-to-sale tracking system that tracks medical marijuana from either the seed or immature plant stage until the medical marijuana or medical marijuana-infused product is sold to a Qualifying Patient or Primary Caregiver to ensure that no medical marijuana grown by a Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facility or manufactured by a Medical Marijuana-Infused Products Manufacturing Facility is sold or otherwise transferred except by a Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facility. The Department shall certify, if possible, at least two commercially available systems to licensees as compliant with its tracking standards and issue standards for the creation or use of other systems by licensees.
(e) Issue standards for the secure transportation of Marijuana and Marijuana-Infused Products. The Department shall certify entities which demonstrate compliance with its transportation standards to transport Marijuana and Marijuana-Infused Products to or from a Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facility, a Medical Marijuana-Infused Products Manufacturing Facility, a Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facility, a Medical Marijuana Testing Facility, or another entity with a transportation certification. The Department shall develop or adopt from any other governmental agency such safety and security standards as are reasonably necessary for the transportation of marijuana and marijuana infused products. Any entity licensed or certified pursuant to this section shall be allowed to transport and store
(2) The Department shall issue any rules or emergency rules necessary for the implementation and enforcement of this section and to ensure the right to, availability, and safe use of marijuana for medical use by Qualifying Patients. In developing such rules or emergency rules, the Department may consult with other public agencies. In addition to any other rules or emergency rules necessary to carry out the mandates of this section, the Department may issue rules or emergency rules relating to the following subjects: (a) Compliance with, enforcement of, or violation of any provision of this section or any rule issued pursuant to this section, including procedures and grounds for denying, suspending, (3) The Department shall issue rules or emergency rules for a medical marijuana and medical marijuana-infused products independent testing and certification program for medical marijuana licensees and requiring licensees to test medical marijuana using one or more impartial, independent laboratories to ensure, at a minimum, that products sold for human consumption do not contain contaminants that are injurious to health, to ensure correct labeling and measure potency. The Department shall not require any medical marijuana or medical marijuana-infused products to be tested more than once prior to sale. (4) The Department shall issue rules or emergency rules to provide for the certification of and standards for (5) (6) Within one hundred eighty days of the effective date of this section, the Department shall make available to the public license application forms and application instructions for Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facilities, Medical Marijuana Testing Facilities, Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facilities, and Medical Marijuana-Infused Products Manufacturing Facilities. (7) Within one hundred eighty days of the effective date of this section, the Department shall make available to the public application forms and application instructions for Qualifying Patient, Qualifying Patient cultivation, and Primary caregiver identification cards. Within two hundred ten days of the effective date of this section, the Department shall begin accepting applications for such identification cards. (8) An entity may apply to the Department for and obtain one or more licenses to grow marijuana as a Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facility. Each facility in operation shall require a separate license, but multiple licenses may be utilized in a single facility. Each indoor facility utilizing artificial lighting may be limited by the Department to thirty thousand square feet of flowering plant canopy space. Each outdoor facility utilizing natural lighting may be limited by the Department to two thousand eight hundred flowering plants. Each greenhouse facility using a combination of natural and artificial lighting may be limited by the Department, at the election of the licensee, to two thousand eight hundred flowering plants or thirty thousand square feet of flowering plant canopy. The license shall be valid for three years from its date of issuance and shall be renewable, except for good cause. The Department shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of ten thousand dollars per license application or renewal for all applicants filing an application within three years of the effective date of this section and shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of five thousand dollars per license application or renewal thereafter. Once granted, the Department shall charge each licensee an annual fee of twenty-five thousand dollars per facility license. Application and license fees shall be increased or decreased each year by the percentage of increase or decrease from the end of the previous calendar year of the Consumer Price Index, or successor index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, or its successor agency. (9) An entity may apply to the Department for and obtain one or more licenses to operate a Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facility. Each facility in operation shall require a separate license. A license shall be valid for three years from its date of issuance and shall be renewable, except for good cause. The Department shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of six thousand dollars per license application or renewal for each applicant filing an application within three years of the effective date of this section and shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of three thousand dollars per license application or renewal thereafter. Once granted, the Department shall charge each licensee an annual fee of ten thousand dollars per facility license. Application and license fees shall be increased or decreased each year by the percentage of increase or decrease from the end of the previous calendar year of the Consumer Price Index, or successor index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, or its successor agency. No more than five Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facility licenses shall be issued to any entity under substantially common control, ownership, or management. (10) An entity may apply to the Department for and obtain one or more licenses to operate a Medical Marijuana-Infused Products Manufacturing Facility. Each facility in operation shall require a separate license. A license shall be valid for three years from its date of issuance and shall be renewable, except for good cause. The Department shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of six thousand dollars per license application or renewal for each applicant filing an application within three years of the effective date of this section and shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of three thousand dollars per license application or renewal thereafter. Once granted, the Department shall charge each licensee an annual fee of ten thousand dollars per facility license. Application and license fees shall be increased or decreased each year by the percentage of increase or decrease from the end of the previous calendar year of the Consumer Price Index, or successor index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, or its successor agency. (11) Any applicant for a license authorized by this section may pre-file their application fee with the Department beginning 30 days after the effective date of this section. (12) Except for good cause, a Qualifying Patient or his or her Primary caregiver may obtain an identification card from the Department to cultivate up to six flowering marijuana plants, six nonflowering marijuana plants (over fourteen inches tall), and six clones (plants under fourteen inches tall) for the exclusive use of that Qualifying Patient. The card shall be valid for (13) The Department may set a limit on the amount of marijuana that may be purchased by or on behalf of a single Qualifying Patient in a thirty day period, provided that limit is not less than (14) The Department may set a limit on the amount of marijuana that may be possessed by or on behalf of each qualifying patient, provided that limit is not less than a sixty day supply of dried, unprocessed marijuana, or its equivalent. A Primary caregiver may possess a separate legal limit for each Qualifying Patient under their care and a separate legal limit for themselves if they are a Qualifying Patient. Qualifying Patients cultivating marijuana for medical use may possess up to a ninety day supply, so long as the supply remains on property under their control. Any such limit shall not apply to a Qualifying Patient with written certification from (15) The Department may restrict the aggregate number of licenses granted for Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facilities and comprehensive marijuana-infused products manufacturing facilities authorized by section 2 combined, provided, however, that the number may not be limited to fewer than one license per every one hundred thousand inhabitants, or any portion thereof, of the state of Missouri, according to the most recent census of the United States. A decrease in the number of inhabitants in the state of Missouri shall have no impact. (16) The Department may restrict the aggregate number of licenses granted for Medical Marijuana-Infused Products Manufacturing Facilities and comprehensive marijuana dispensary facilities authorized by section 2 combined, provided, however, that the number may not be limited to fewer than one license per every seventy thousand inhabitants, or any portion thereof, of the state of Missouri, according to the most recent census of the United States. A decrease in the number of inhabitants in the state of Missouri shall have no impact. (17) The Department may restrict the aggregate number of licenses granted for Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facilities, provided, however, that the number may not be limited to fewer than twenty-four licenses in each United States Congressional district in the state of Missouri pursuant to the map of each of the eight congressional districts as drawn and effective on the effective date of this section. Future changes to the boundaries of or the number of congressional districts shall have no impact. (18) The Department shall begin accepting license and certification applications for Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facilities, Medical Marijuana Testing Facilities, Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facilities. Medical Marijuana-Infused Products Manufacturing Facilities, seed-to-sale tracking systems, and for transportation of marijuana no later than two hundred forty days after the effective date of this section. Applications for licenses and certifications under this section shall be approved or denied by the Department no later than one hundred fifty days after their submission. If the Department fails to carry out its non-discretionary duty to approve or deny an application within one hundred fifty days of submission, an applicant may immediately seek a court order compelling the Department to approve or deny the application. (19) Qualifying Patients under this section shall obtain (20) Primary caregivers under this section shall obtain (21) Except as otherwise provided in this article, all (22) All marijuana-infused products for medical use sold in the state of Missouri shall be manufactured in a Medical Marijuana-Infused Products Manufacturing Facility. (23) The denial of a license, license renewal, or identification card by the Department shall be appealable to the Administrative Hearing Commission, or its successor entity. Following the exhaustion of administrative review, denial of a license, license renewal, or identification card by the Department shall be subject to judicial review as provided by law. (24) No elected official shall interfere directly or indirectly with the Department’s obligations and activities under this section. (25) The Department shall not have the authority to apply or enforce any unduly burdensome rule or regulation or any administrative penalty 4. Taxation and Reporting (1) A tax is levied upon the retail sale of marijuana for medical use sold at Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facilities within the state. The tax shall be at a rate of four percent of the retail price. The tax shall be collected by each licensed Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facility and paid to the Department of Revenue. After retaining no more than (2) There is hereby created in the state treasury the “Missouri Veterans’ Health and Care Fund,” which shall consist of taxes and fees collected under this section. The State Treasurer shall be custodian of the fund, and he or she shall invest monies in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any interest and monies earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any monies remaining in the fund at the end of a biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund. The Commissioner of Administration is authorized to make cash operating transfers to the fund for purposes of meeting the cash requirements of the Department in advance of it receiving annual application, licensing, and tax revenue, with any such transfers to be repaid as provided by law. The fund shall be a dedicated fund and shall stand appropriated without further legislative action as follows: (a) First, to the Department, an amount necessary for the Department to carry out this section, including repayment of any cash operating transfers, payments made through contract or agreement with other state and public agencies necessary to carry out this section, and a reserve fund to maintain a reasonable working cash balance for the purpose of carrying out this section; (b) Next, the remainder of such funds shall be transferred to the Missouri Veterans Commission for health and care services for military veterans, including the following purposes: operations, maintenance and capital improvements of the Missouri Veterans Homes, the Missouri Service Officer’s Program, and other services for veterans approved by the Commission, including, but not limited to, health care services, mental health services, drug rehabilitation services, housing assistance, job training, tuition assistance, and housing assistance to prevent homelessness. The Missouri Veterans Commission shall contract with other public agencies for the delivery of services beyond its expertise. (c) All monies from the taxes authorized under this subsection shall provide additional dedicated funding for the purposes enumerated above and shall not replace existing dedicated funding. (3) For all retail sales of marijuana for medical use, a record shall be kept by the seller which identifies, by secure and encrypted patient number issued by the seller to the qualifying patient involved in the sale, all amounts and types of marijuana involved in the sale and the total amount of money involved in the sale, including itemizations, taxes collected and grand total sale amounts. All such records shall be kept on the premises in a readily available format and be made available for review by the Department and the Department of Revenue upon request. Such records shall be retained for five years from the date of the sale. (4) The tax levied pursuant to this subsection is separate from, and in addition to, any general state and local sales and use taxes that apply to retail sales, which shall continue to be collected and distributed as provided by general law. (5) Except as authorized in this subsection, no additional taxes shall be imposed on the sale of marijuana for medical use. (6) The fees and taxes provided for in this Article XVI, Section 1 shall be fully enforceable notwithstanding any other provision in this Constitution purportedly prohibiting or restricting the taxes and fees provided for herein. (7) The unexpended balance existing in the fund shall be exempt from the provisions of section 33.080, RSMo, or its successor provisions, relating to the transfer of unexpended balances to the general revenue (8) For taxpayers authorized to do business pursuant to this Article, the amount that would have been deducted in the computation of federal taxable income pursuant to 26 U.S.C. Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code as in effect on January 1. 2021 or successor provisions, but is disallowed because cannabis is a controlled substance under Federal law, shall be subtracted from the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income, in determining the taxpayer’s Missouri adjusted gross income. 5. Additional Patient, Physician, Nurse Practitioner Caregiver and Provider Protections (1) Except as provided in this section, the possession of marijuana in quantities less than the limits of this section, or established by the Department, and transportation of marijuana (2) No patient shall be denied access to or priority for an organ transplant or other medical care because they hold a Qualifying Patient identification card or use marijuana for medical use. (3) A physician or nurse practitioner shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions under Missouri law or discipline by the Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, the Missouri state board of nursing or (4) A health care provider shall not be subject to civil or criminal prosecution under Missouri law, denial of any right or privilege, civil or administrative penalty or sanction, or disciplining action by any accreditation or licensing board or commission for owning, Operating, investing in, being employed by, or contracting with any entity licensed or certified pursuant to this section or providing health care services that involve the medical use of marijuana consistent with this section and legal standards of professional conduct. (5) A (6) A health care provider shall not be subject to mandatory reporting requirements for the medical use of marijuana by non-emancipated Qualifying Patients under eighteen years of age in a manner consistent with this section and with consent of a parent or guardian. (7) A Primary caregiver shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions under Missouri law for purchasing, transporting, or administering marijuana for medical use to a qualifying patient or participating in the patient cultivation of up to six flowering marijuana plants, six nonflowering marijuana plants (over fourteen inches tall), and six clones (plants under fourteen inches tall) per patient and no more than twenty-four flowering plants for more than one qualifying patient in a manner consistent with this section and generally established legal standards of personal or professional conduct. (8) (a) owning, operating, investing in, being employed by, or contracting with prospective or licensed marijuana testing facilities, medical marijuana cultivation facilities, medical marijuana dispensary facilities, medical marijuana-infused products manufacturing facilities, or transportation certificate holders; (b) counseling, advising, and/or assisting a client in conduct permitted be Missouri law that may violate or conflict with federal or other law, as long as the attorney advises the client about that federal or other law and its potential consequences; (c) counseling, advising, and/or assisting a client in connection with applying for, owning, operating, or otherwise having any legal, equitable, or beneficial interest in marijuana testing facilities, medical mariiuana cultivation facilities, medical mariiuana dispensary facilities, medical marijuana-infused products manufacturing facilities, or transportation certificates; or (d) counseling, advising, or assisting a qualifying patient, primary caregiver, physician, nurse practitioner, health care provider or other client related to activity that is no longer subject to criminal penalties under Missouri law pursuant to this Article. (9) Actions and conduct by Qualifying Patients, Primary Caregivers, (10) Nothing in this section shall provide immunity for negligence, either common law or statutorily created, nor criminal immunities for operating a vehicle, aircraft, dangerous device, or navigating a boat under the influence of marijuana. (11) It is the public policy of the state of Missouri that contracts related to marijuana for medical use that are entered into by Qualifying Patients, Primary Caregivers, (12) In the process of requesting a search or arrest warrant relating to the production, possession, transportation or storage of marijuana, a state or local law enforcement official shall verify with the department whether the targeted person is a qualifying patient or primary caregiver holding an identification card allowing for cultivation of marijuana plants under subdivision (12) of subsection 3 of this section, and shall inform the issuing authority accordingly when making the warrant request. Evidence of marijuana alone, without specific evidence indicating that the mariiuana is outside of what is lawful for medical or adult use, cannot be the basis for a search of a patient or non-patient, including their home, vehicle, or other property. Lawful marijuana related activities cannot be the basis for a violation of parole, probation, or any type of supervised release. State and local law enforcement shall only have access to such department information as is necessary to confirm whether the targeted person holds a registration card. (13) Registered qualifying patients on bond for pre-trial release, on probation, or other form of supervised release shall not be prohibited from legally using a lawful mariiuana product as a term or condition of release, probation. or parole. An alternative sentencing drug court program may not prohibit individuals under its jurisdiction from using a lawful marijuana product as long as the individual is a registered qualifying patient. (14) A family court participant or party who requires treatment for a qualified medical condition in accordance with this Section shall not be required to refrain from using medical mariiuana as a term or condition of successful completion of the family court program. The status and conduct of a qualified patient who acts in accordance with this section shall not, by Itself, be used to restrict or abridge custodial or parental rights to minor children in any action or proceeding under the jurisdiction of a family court under chapter 487, RSMo, including domestic matters under chapter 452, RSMo, or a juvenile court under chapter 211, RSMo, or successor provisions. (15) A person shall not be denied adoption, custody, or visitation rights relative to a minor solely for conduct that is permitted by this section. (16) No person shall be denied their rights under Article 1, Section 23 of the Missouri Constitution, or successor provisions. solely for conduct that is permitted by this section. 6. Legislation Nothing in this section shall limit the General Assembly from enacting laws consistent with this section, or otherwise effectuating the patient rights of this section. The legislature shall not enact laws that hinder the right of Qualifying Patients to access marijuana for medical use as granted by this section. 7. Additional Provisions (1) Nothing in this section permits a person to: (a) Consume marijuana for medical use in a jail or correctional Facility;
(b) Undertake any task under the influence of marijuana when doing so would constitute negligence or professional malpractice; or
(c) Operate, navigate, or be in actual physical control of any dangerous device or motor vehicle, aircraft or motorboat while under the influence of marijuana. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an arrest or a conviction of a person who has a valid qualifying patient identification card for any
applicable offenses shall require evidence that the person was in fact under the influence of
mariiuana at the time the person was in actual physical control of the dangerous device or motor
vehicle. aircraft or motorboat and not solely on the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or THC metabolites, or a combination thereof, in the person's
system; or
(d) Bring a claim against any employer, former employer, or prospective employer for wrongful discharge, discrimination, or any similar cause of action or remedy, based on the employer, former employer, or prospective employer prohibiting the employee, former employee, or prospective employee from being under the influence of marijuana while at work or disciplining the employee or former employee, up to and including termination from employment, for working or attempting to work while under the influence of marijuana.
(2) No Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facility, (a) The person’s conviction was for the medical use of marijuana or assisting in the medical use of marijuana; or (b) The person’s conviction was for a non-violent crime for which he or she was not incarcerated and that is more than five years old, or (c) More than five years have passed since the person was released from parole or probation, and he or she has not been convicted of any subsequent criminal offenses. The Department may consult with and rely on the records, advice and recommendations of the Attorney General and the Department of Public Safety, or their successor entities, in applying this subdivision. (3) (4) No Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facility, Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facility, or Medical Marijuana-Infused Products Manufacturing Facility shall manufacture, package or label marijuana or marijuana-infused products in a false or misleading manner. No person shall sell any product in a manner designed to cause confusion between a marijuana or marijuana-infused product and any product not containing marijuana. A violation of this subdivision shall be punishable by an appropriate and proportional Department sanction, up to and including an administrative penalty of five thousand dollars and loss of license.
(b) The only local government ordinances or regulations that are binding on a medical facility are those of the local government where the medical facility is physically located.
(15) Unless a failure to do so would cause an employer to lose a monetary or licensing-related benefit under federal law, an employer may not discriminate against a person in hiring, termination or any term or condition of employment or otherwise penalize a person, if the discrimination is based upon elther of the following: (a) The person's status as a qualifying patient or primary caregiver who has a valid identification card, including the person's legal use of a lawful marijuana product off the employer's premises during nonworking hours, unless the person was under the influence of medical marijuana on the premises of the place of employment or during the hours of employment; or (b) A positive drug test for marijuana components or metabolites of a person who has a valid qualifying patient identification card, unless the person used, possessed, or was under the influence of medical marijuana on the premises of the place of employment or during the hours of employment. Nothing in this subdivision shall apply to an employee in a position in which legal use of a lawful marijuana product affects in any manner a person's ability to perform job-related employment responsibilities or the safety of others, or conflicts with a bona fide occupational qualification that is reasonably related to the person's employment. (16) The enactment of section 2 of this Article and concurrent amendments to section 1 of this Article shall have no effect upon any valid contract, claim, or cause of action instituted prior to the effective date of this section. 8. Federal Legalization. If Federal law, rules, or regulations are amended to allow the interstate commerce of marijuana or marijuana-infused products or the importation or exportation of marijuana or marijuana-infused products into or out of the state of Missouri, the provisions and intent of this section shall, to the extent possible, remain in full effect unless explicitly preempted by such federal law, rule, or regulation. If federal law, rules, or regulations are amended as provided above, any marijuana or marijuana-infused products imported into this state shall be subject to the same testing standards and seed to sale tracking system required under this section for marijuana and marijuana-infused products produced within the state. Unless federal law, rules. or regulations explicitly require otherwise, no entity shall sell, transport, produce, distribute, deliver, or cultivate marijuana or marijuana-infused products without an applicable license or certificate as required under this section. In addition, any raw biomass of marijuana or mariiuana flower imported from out-of-state shall be received only by a licensed cultivation facility, while all batch oil, infused marijuana products and any marimana product in any other form shall be received only by a licensed manufacturing facility.
The provisions of this section are severable, and if any clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this measure, or an application thereof, is adjudged invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions shall continue to be in effect to the fullest extent possible.
The provisions of this section shall become effective on December 6, 2018. Section 2. Marijuana Legalization, Regulation, and Taxation 1. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to make marijuana legal under state and local law for adults twenty-one years of age or older, and to control the commercial production and distribution of marijuana under a system that licenses, regulates, and taxes the businesses involved while protecting public health. The intent is to prevent arrest and penalty for personal possession and cultivation of limited amounts of mariiuana be adults twenty-one years of age or older; remove the commercial production and distribution of marijuana from the illicit market; prevent revenue generated from commerce in marijuana from going to criminal enterprises: prevent the distribution of marijuana to persons under twenty-one years of age; prevent the diversion of marijuana to illicit markets: protect public health by ensuring the safety of marijuana and products containing marijuana: and ensure the security of marijuana facilities. To the fullest extent possible, this section shall be interpreted in accordance with the purpose and intent set forth in this section. This section is not intended to allow for the public use of marijuana, driving while under the influence of marijuana, the use of marljuana in the workplace, or the use of marijuana by persons under twenty-one years of age. 2. Definitions. (l) “Church” means a permanent building primarily and regularly used as a place of religious worship. (2)“Comprehensive Facility means a comprehensive mariiuana cultivation facility, comprehensive marijuana dispensary facility, or a comprehensive marijuana-infused products manufacturing facility. (3) "Comprehensive Marijuana Cultivation Facility" means a facility licensed by the department to acquire, cultivate, process, package, store on site or off site, transport to or from, and sell marijuana, marijuana seeds, marijuana vegetative cuttings (also known as clones) to a medical facility, comprehensive facility, or marijuana testing facility. A comprehensive marijuana cultivation facility need not segregate or account for its marijuana products as either non-medical marijuana or medical marijuana. A comprehensive marijuana cultivation facility's authority to process marijuana shall include the creation of prerolls, but shall not include the manufacture of marijuana-infused products. (4) "Comprehensive Marijuana Dispensary Facility" means a facility licensed be the department to acquire, process, package, store on site or off site, sell, transport to or from, and deliver marijuana, marijuana seeds, mariiuana vegetative cuttings (also known as clones), marijuana-infused products, and drug paraphernalia used to administer marijuana as provided for in this section to a qualifying patient or primary caregiver, as those terms are defined in section 1 of this Article, or to a consumer, anywhere on the licensed property or to any address as directed by the patient, primary caregiver, or consumer and consistent with the limitations of this Article and as otherwise allowed by law, to a comprehensive facility, a marijuana testing facility, or a medical facility. Comprehensive dispensary facilities may receive transaction orders at the dispensary directly from the consumer in person, by phone, or via the internet, including from a third party. A comprehensive marijuana dispensary facility need not segregate or account for its marijuana products as either non-medical marijuana or medical marijuana but shall collect all appropriate tangible personal property sales tax for each sale, as set forth in this Article and provided for by general or local law. A comprehensive marijuana dispensary facility's authority to process marijuana shall include the creation of prerolls. (5) "Comprehensive Marijuana-Infused Products Manufacturing Facility" means a facility licensed by the department to acquire, process, package, store, manufacture, transport to or from a medical facility, comprehensive facility, or marijuana testing facility, and sell marijuana-infused products, prerolls, and infused prerolls to a marijuana dispensary facility, a marijuana testing facility, or another marijuana-infused products manufacturing facility. A comprehensive marijuana-infused products manufacturing facility need not segregate or account for its marijuana products as either non-medical marijuana or medical marijuana. (6) "Consumer" means a person who is at least twenty-one years of age. (7) “Daycare” means a child-care facility, as defined by section 210.201, RSMo., or successor provisions, that is licensed by the state of Missouri. (8) "Department" means the Department of Health and Senior Services, or its successor agency. (9) "Entity" means a natural person, corporation, professional corporation, nonprofit corporation, cooperative corporation, unincorporated association, business trust, limited liability company, general or limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, or any other legal entity. (10) "Flowering plant" means a marijuana plant from the time it exhibits the first signs of sexual maturity through harvest. (11) “Infused Preroll” means a consumable or smokable marijuana product generally consisting of: (1) a wrap or paper, (2) dried flower buds, and/or plant material, and (3) a concentrate, oil or other type of marijuana extract either within or on the surface of the product. Infused prerolls may or may not include a filter or crutch at the base of the product. (12) "Local government" means, in the case of an incorporated area, a village, town, or city and, in the case of an unincorporated area, a county. (13) "Marijuana" or "marihuana" means Cannabis indica, Cannabis sativa, and Cannabis ruderalis, hybrids of such species, and any other strains commonly understood within the scientific community to constitute marijuana, as well as resin extracted from the marijuana plant and marijuana-infused products. "Marijuana" or "marihuana" do not include industrial hemp, as defined by Missouri statute, or commodities or products manufactured from industrial hemp. (14) "Marijuana accessories" means any equipment, product materials or combination of equipment products, or materials, which is specifically designed for use in planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing. preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging. repackaging, storing, containing, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing marijuana into the human body. (15) "Marijuana Facility" means a comprehensive marijuana cultivation facility, comprehensive mariiuana dispensary facility, marijuana testing facility, comprehensive marijuana-infused products, manufacturing facility, microbusiness wholesale facility, microbusiness dispensary facility, or any other type of marijuana-related facility or business licensed or certified by the department pursuant to this section. but shall not include a medical facility licensed under section l of this Article. 116) "Marijuana-Infused Products" means products that are infused, dipped, coated, sprayed. or mixed with marijuana or an extract thereof, including, but not limited to, products that are able to be vaporized or smoked, edible products, ingestible products, tonical products. suppositories, and infused prerolls. (17) "Marijuana Microbusiness Facility" means a facility licensed by the department as a microbusiness dispensary facility or microbusiness wholesale facility, as defined in this section. (18) “Microbusiness Dispensary Facility” means a facility licensed be the department to acquire, process, package, store on site or offsite, sell, transport to or from, and deliver marijuana, marijuana seeds, marijuana vegetative cuttings (also known as clones), marijuana-infused products, and drug paraphernalia used to administer marijuana as provided for in this section to a consumer, qualifying patient as that term is defined in section l of this Article, or primary caregiver, as that term is defined in section 1 of this Article, anywhere on the licensed property or to any address as directed by the consumer, qualifying patient, or primary caregiver and, consistent with the limitations of this Article and as otherwise allowed by law, a microbusiness wholesale facility, or a marijuana testing facility. Microbusiness dispensary facilities may receive transaction orders at the dispensary directly from the consumer in person, by phone, or via the internet, including from a third party. A microbusiness dispensary facility's authority to process marijuana shall include the creation of prerolls. (19) “Microbusiness Wholesale Facility” means a facility licensed by the department to acquire, cultivate, process, package, store on site or off site, manufacture, transport to or from, deliver, and sell marijuana marijuana seeds, marijuana vegetative cuttings, (also known as clones), and mariiuana infused products to a microbusiness dispensary facility, other microbusiness wholesale facility, or marijuana testing facility. A microbusiness wholesale facility may cultivate up to 250 flowering marijuana plants at any given time. A microbusiness wholesale facility's authority to process marijuana shall include the creation of prerolls and infused prerolls. (20) "Marijuana Testing Facility" means a facility certified by the department to acquire, test certify, and transport marijuana, including those originally certified as a medical marijuana testing facility. (21) "Owner" means an individual who has a financial (other than a security interest, lien, or encumbrance) or voting interest in ten percent or neater of a marijuana facility. (22) “Preroll” means a consumable or smokable marijuana product generally consisting of (1) a wrap or paper and (2) dried flower, buds, and/or plant material. Prerolls may or may not include a filter or crutch at the base of the product. (23) "Unduly burdensome" means that the measures necessary to comply with the rules or ordinances adopted pursuant to this section subject licensees or potential licensees to such a high investment of money, time, or any other resource or asset that a reasonably prudent businessperson would not operate the marijuana facility. 3. Limitations. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Article, this section does not preclude, limit, or affect laws that assign liability relative to, prohibit, or otherwise regulate: (a) Delivery or distribution of marijuana or marijuana accessories, with or without consideration, to a person younger than twenty-one years of age; (b) Purchase, possession, use, or transport of marijuana accessories, with or without consideration, to a person younger than twenty-one years of age; (c) Consumption of marijuana by a person younger than twenty-one years of age: (d) Operating or being in physical control of any motor vehicle, train, aircraft, motorboat, or other motorized form of transport while under the influence of marijuana. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a conviction of a person who is at least twenty-one years of age for any applicable offenses shall require evidence that the person was in fact under the influence of marijuana at the time the person was in physical control of the motorized form of transport and not solely on the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or THC metabolites, or a combination thereof, in the person's systems; (e) Consumption of marijuana while operating or being in physical control of a motor vehicle, train, aircraft, motorboat, or other motorized form of transport while it is being operated: (f) Smoking marijuana within a motor vehicle, train, aircraft, motorboat, or other motorized form of transport while it is being operated: (g) Possession or consumption of marijuana or possession of marijuana accessories on the grounds of a public or private preschool, elementary or secondary school, institution of higher education, in a school bus, or on the grounds of any correctional facility; (h) Smoking marijuana in a location where smoking tobacco is prohibited; (i) Consumption of marijuana in a public placed other than in an area licensed by the authorities having jurisdiction over the licensing and/or permitting of said activity, as set forth in subsection 5 of this section; (j) Conduct that endangers others; (k) Undertaking any task while under the influence of marijuana, if doing so would constitute negligence, recklessness, or professional malpractice; or (l) Performing solvent-based extractions on marijuana using solvents other than water, glycerin, propylene glycol, vegetable oil, or food-grade ethanol, unless licensed for the activity by this department. (2) This section does not limit any privileges, rights, immunities, or defenses of a person or entity as provided in section 1 of this Article, or any other law of this state allowing for or regulating marijuana for medical use. (3) This section does not require an employer to permit or accommodate conduct otherwise allowed by this section in any workplace or on the employer’s property. This section does not prevent an employer from disciplining an employee for working while under the influence of marijuana. This section does not prevent an employer from refusing to hire, discharging, disciplining, or otherwise taking an adverse employment action against a person with respect to hire, tenure, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because that person was working while under the influence of marijuana. (4) This section allows an entity to prohibit or otherwise limit the consumption, cultivation, distribution, processing, sale, or display of marijuana, marijuana-infused products, and marijuana accessories on private property the entity owns, leases.,occupies, or manages, except that a lease agreement executed after the effective date of this section may not prohibit a tenant from lawfully possessing and consuming marijuana by means other than smoking. (5) The enactment of this section and all concurrent amendments to section 1 of this Article shall have no effect upon any valid contract, claims, or cause of action instituted prior to the effective date of this section. 4. Regulation of Marijuana (1) In carrying out the implementation of this section and as conditioned herein, the department shall have the authority to: (a) Grant or refuse state licenses for the cultivation, manufacture, dispensing, and sale of marijuana; suspend, restrict, or revoke such licenses upon a violation of this section or a rule promulgated pursuant to this section: and impose any reasonable administrative penalty authorized by this section or any general law enacted or rule promulgated pursuant to this section, so long as any procedure related to a suspension or revocation includes a reasonable cure period, not less than thirty days, prior to the suspension or revocation, excent in instances where there is a credible and imminent threat to public health or public safety; (b) Promulgate rules and emergency rules necessary for the proper regulation and control of the cultivation, manufacture, dispensing, and sale of marijuana and for the enforcement of this section so long as such rules are reasonable and not unduly burdensome; (c) Develop such forms, certificates, licenses, identification cards, and applications as are necessary for, or reasonably related to the administration of this section or any of the rules promulgated under this section; (d) Require a seed-to-sale tracking system that tracks marijuana either the seed or immature plant stage until the marijuana or marijuana-infused product is sold to a qualified patient, primary caregiver, or consumer to ensure that no marijuana grown by a medical mariiuana cultivation facility, comprehensive mariiuana cultivation facility, or microbusiness wholesale facility, or manufactured by a medical marijuana-infused products manufacturing facility, a comprehensive marijuana-infused products manufacturing facility, or a microbusiness wholesale facility is sold or otherwise transferred to a consumer, qualified patient or primary caregiver, except by a medical marijuana dispensary facility, a comprehensive dispensary facility, or a microbusiness dispensary facility. The department shall certify all commercially available tracking systems that are compliant with its tracking standards and issue standards for the creation or use of other systems by licensees: (e) Issue standards for the secure transportation of marijuana and mariiuana-infused products. The department shall certify entities that demonstrate compliance with its transportation standards to transport mariiuana and mariiuana-infiised products to or from a comprehensive facility, medical facility, microbusiness facility, another entity with a transportation certification, or any entity licensed pursuant to paragraph (g) of this subdivision. The department shall develop or adopt from any other governmental agency such safety and security standards as are reasonable necessary for the transportation and temporary storage of marijuana and marijuana-infused products. Any entity licensed or certified pursuant to this section shall be allowed to transport its own inventory and products in compliance with department transportation rules and store mariiuana and marijuana-infused products for the purposes related to transportation in compliance with department regulations on secure storage of marijuana and marijuana-infused products; (f) Promulgate rules and emergency rules specific to the licensing, regulation, and oversight of marijuana microbusiness facilities; (g) Provide for the issuance of additional types or classes of licenses to operate mariiuana-related businesses that: (i) allow for only transportations delivery, or storage of marijuana; or (ii) are intended to facilitate scientific research or education. (h) Prepare and transmit annually a publicly available report accounting to the governor or the general assembly, and the public for the efficient discharge of all responsibilities assigned to the department under this section. The report shall provide aggregate data for each type of license (medical, comprehensive, and microbusiness) and facility (dispensary, manufacturers, wholesalers.) Only non-identifying information shall be provided regarding any marijuana facility owners: (i) Establish a lottery selection process to select comprehensive facility licenses, certificate holders, mariiuana microbusiness licensees, but not medical facility licensees that are converting to comprehensive licenses pursuant to this subsection. To become eligible for any license lottery selection process.,an owner cannot have pleaded guilty or been found guilty of a disqualifying felony, as that term has been defined in subsection 9 of this section (j) In developing a lottery selection process to award licenses and certificates, the department may consult or contract with other public agencies with relevant expertise. (k) While not required as a prerequisite to participation in a comprehensive license lottery, every comprehensive license applicant shall submit to the department a voluntary plan to promote and encourage participation in the regulated marijuana industry by people from communities that have been disproportionately impacted bv marijuana prohibition. The plan may include strategies to address geographical defined communities that have been disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition: provide for ownership opportunities for disproportionately impacted communities; and provide for employment, supplier, and vendor opportunities for individuals and businesses in communities that have been disproportionately impacted be mariiuana prohibition. If licensed, any voluntary applicant plan shall be enforceable by the department. (I) Notwithstanding other grants of authority herein, neither the department nor any governmental body may restrict the production or use of marijuana and marijuana-infused products based solely upon THC content, (m) Set a limit on the amount of marijuana that may be purchased in a single transaction provided that limit is not less than three ounces of dried, unprocessed marijuana, or its equivalent. (n) Regulate the advertising and promotion of marijuana sales, but any such regulation shall be no more stringent than comparable state regulations on the advertising and promotion of alcohol sales. (2) The department shall issue, at a minimum, the same number of comprehensive marijuana cultivation facility licenses as were authorized or issued for medical marijuana cultivation facilities under section 1 of this Article as of December 7, 2022, the same number of comprehensive marijuana-infused products manufacturing facility licenses as were authorized or issued for medical marijuana-infused products manufacturing facilities under section 1 of this Article as of December 7, 2022, the same number of comprehensive marijuana dispensary facility licenses with the same congressional distribution requirements as were authorized or issued for medical marijuana dispensary facilities under section 1 of this Article as of December 7, 2022, in addition to the minimum number of marijuana microbusiness licenses as are required under this section. The department may lift or ease any limit on the number of licensees or certificate holders in order to meet the demand for marijuana in the state and to ensure a competitive market while also preventing an over-concentration of marijuana facilities within the boundaries of any particular local government. (3) If comprehensive facility licenses become available because the number of total issued licenses in any respective catgory falls below the minimum required under this section or the department determines more comprehensive facility licenses are necessary to meet the requirements of subdivision (2) of this subsection, the department shall award by Iottery at least fifty percent of any new licenses available to satisfy the minimum requirement to applicants who are owners of a mariiuana microbusiness facility that has been in operation for at least one year and is in good standing with the department and is otherwise qualified for the license. (4) The department may issue any rules or emergency rules necessary for the implementation and enforcement of this section and to ensure the right to, availability, and safe use of marijuana by consumers. In developing such rules or emergency rules, the department may consult or contract with other public agencies. In addition to any other rules or emergency rules necessary to carry out the mandates of this section, the department shall issue rules or emergency rules relating to the following subjects: (a) Procedures for issuing a license and for renewing, suspending, and revoking a license, so long as any procedure related to a suspension or revocation includes a reasonable cure period, not less than thirty days, prior to the suspension or revocation, except in instances where there is a credible and imminent threat to public health or public safety; (b) Requirements and standards for safe cultivation, processing, and distribution of marijuana and marijuana-infused products by mariiuana facilities, including health standards to ensure the safe preparation of marijuana-infused products; (c) Testing, packaging, and labeling standards, procedures, and requirements for marijuana and marijuana-infused products and a requirement that a representative sample of mariiuana be tested by a mariiuana testing facility to ensure public health. (d) Labeling standards that protect public health by requiring the listing of pharmacologically active ingredients, including, but not limited to, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabinoid content, the THC and other cannabinoid amount in milligrams per servings the number of servings per package, and quantity limits per sale to comply with the allowable possession amount; (e) Requirements that packaging and labels shall not be made to be attractive to children, required warning labels, and that marijuana and marijuana-infused products be sold in resealable child-resistant packaging to protect public health; (f) Security requirements, including lighting, physical security, and alarm requirements, and requirements for securely transporting marijuana between marijuana facilities; (g) Record keeping requirements for marijuana facilities and monitoring requirements to track the transfer of marijuana by licensees; (h) A plan to promote and encourage ownership and employment in the marijuana industry by people from political subdivisions and districts that are economically distressed and to positively impact those political subdivisions and districts; (i) Administrative penalties as authorized by this section for failure to comply with any rule promulgated pursuant to this section or for any violation of rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section bv a licensee, including authorized administrative fines and suspension, revocation, or restriction of a license. The licensee may choose to challenge any penalties imposed by the department through the administrative hearing commission, or its successor entity. Pursuant to section 536.100. RSMo, or its successor provisions, any licensee who has exhausted all administrative remedies provided be law and who is aggrieved by a final decision in a contested case is entitled to judicial review; (j) Reporting and transmittal of tax payments required under this section; (k) Authorization for the department of revenue to have access to licensing information to ensure tax payment and the effective administration of this section; and (l) Such other matters as are necessary for the fair, impartial, stringent and comprehensive administration of this section. (5) The department shall issue rules or emergency rules for marijuana or marijuana-infused products independent testing and certification program for marijuana facility licensees and requiring licensees to test marijuana using one or more impartial, independent laboratory or laboratories to ensure, at a minimum, correct labeling, potency measurement and that products sold for human consumption do not contain contaminants that are potentially injurious to public health. (6) The department shall issue rules or emergency rules to provide for the certification of and standards for mariiuana testing facilities, including the requirements for equipment and qualifications for personnel, but shall not require certificate holders to have any federal agency licensing or have any relationship with a federally licensed testing facility. No marijuana testing facility shall be owned by an entity or entities under substantially common control, ownership, or management as a marijuana cultivation facility, marijuana-infused products manufacturing facility, marijuana microbusiness facility, or marijuana dispensary facility. (7) All public records produced or retained pursuant to this section are subject to the general provisions of the Missouri Sunshine Law, chapter 610, RSMo, or its successor provisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, public records containing proprietary business information obtained from an applicant or licensee shall be closed. The applicant or licensee shall label business information it believes to be proprietary prior to submitting it to the department. Proprietary business information shall include sales information, financial records, tax returns, credit reports, license applications, cultivation information unrelated to product safety, testing results unrelated to product safety, site security, information and plans, and individualized consumer information. The presence of proprietary business information shall not justify the closure of public records: (a) Identifying the applicant or licensee (b) Relating to any citation, notice of violation, tax delinquency, or other enforcement (c) Relating to any public official's support or opposition relative to any applicant, licensee, or their proposed or actual operations; (d) Where disclosure is reasonably necessary for the protection of public health or safety; or (e) That are otherwise subject to public inspection under applicable law. (8) Within one hundred and eighty days of the effective date of this section, the department shall make available to the public license application forms and application instructions for marijuana microbusiness facilities. Within two hundred and seventy days of the effective date of this section, the department shall start accepting such applications from applicants. (9) An entity may apply to the department for and obtain one or more licenses to grow marijuana as a comprehensive marijuana cultivation facility. Each facility in operation shall require a separate license, but multiple licenses may be utilized in a single facility. Each indoor facility utilizing artificial lighting may be limited by the department to thirty thousand square feet of flowering plant canopy space. Each outdoor facility utilizing natural lighting may be limited by the department to two thousand eight hundred flowering plants. Each greenhouse facility using a combination of natural and artificial lighting may be limited by the department, at the election of the licensee, to two thousand eight hundred flowering plants or thirty thousand square feet of flowering plant canopy. The license shall be valid for three years from its date of issuance and shall be renewable, except for good cause. The department shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of twelve thousand dollars per license application or renewal for all applicants filing an application within three years of the effective date of this section and shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of five thousand dollars per license application or renewal thereafter. Once granted, the department shall charge each licensee an annual fee of twenty-five thousand dollars per facility license. Application and license fees shall be increased or decreased each year bv the percentage of increase or decrease from the end of the previous calendar year of the Consumer Price Index, or successor index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, or its successor agency. An entity may not be an owner of more than ten percent of the total marijuana cultivation facility licenses outstanding under both sections 1 and 2 of this Article at any given time, rounded down to the nearest whole number. (10) An entity may apply to the department for and obtain one or more licenses to operate a comprehensive mariiuana dispensary facility. Each facility in operation shall require a separate license. A license shall be valid for three years from its date of issuance and shall be renewable, except for good cause. The department shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of seven thousand dollars per license application or renewal for each applicant filing an application within three years of the effective date of this section and shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of three thousand dollars per license application or renewal thereafter. Once granted, the department shall charge each licensee an annual fee of ten thousand dollars per facility license. Application and license fees shall be increased or decreased each year by the percentage of increase or decrease from the end of the previous calendar year of the Consumer Price Index, or successor index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, or its successor agency. An entity may not be an owner of more than ten percent of the total marijuana dispensary facility licenses outstanding under both sections I and 2 of this Article at any given time, rounded down to the nearest whole number. (11) An entity may apply to the department for and obtain one or more licenses to operate a comprehensive marijuana-infused products manufacturing facility. Each facility in operation shall require a separate license. A license shall be valid for three years from its date of issuance and shall be renewable, except for good cause. The department shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of seven thousand dollars per license application or renewal for each applicant filing an application within three years of the effective date of this section and shall charge each applicant a non-refundable fee of three thousand dollars per license application or renewal thereafter. Once granted, the department shall charge each licensee an annual fee of ten thousand dollars per facility license. Application and license fees shall be increased or decreased each year by the percentage of increase or decrease from the end of the previous calendar year of the Consumer Price Index, or successor index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, or its successor agency. An entity may not be an owner of more than ten percent of the total marijuana-infused products manufacturing facility licenses outstanding under both sections 1 and 2 of this Article at any given time, rounded down to the nearest whole number. (12) An entity may apply to the department for and obtain only one license to operate a marijuana microbusiness facility, which may be either a microbusiness dispensary facility or a microbusiness wholesale facility. A marijuana microbusiness facility licensee may engage in all of the activities allowed under the license or it may apply for and engage in a subset of the activities allowed if the applicant or license holder so chooses. A microbusiness wholesale facility may cultivate, process, manufacture, transport and sell marijuana and marijuana-infused products to any other marijuana microbusiness facility. A microbusiness dispensary facility licensee may acquire from any other microbusiness facility, process, package, deliver, and sell marijuana and marijuana-infused products to any other marijuana microbusiness facility, or directly to qualified patients, their primary caregiver, or consumers. A marijuana microbusiness license shall be valid for three years from its date of issuance and shall be renewable, except for good cause. The department shall charge each applicant a fee of one thousand five hundred dollars per license application and for each subsequent license renewal application thereafter. Any applicant that meets the criteria to apply for a mariiuana microbusiness facility license but is not chosen by the lottery system may have their application fee refunded. Once granted, the department shall charge each licensee an annual fee of one thousand five hundred dollars per facility license, but there shall be no annual fee assessed for the first year of licensure. Application and license fees shall be increased or decreased each year be the percentage of increase or decrease from the end of the previous calendar year of the Consumer Price Index, or successor index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, or its successor agency. An entity may not be an owner of more than one mariiuana microbusiness facility license. An owner of a marijuana microbusiness facility may not also be an owner of another licensed marijuana facility or medical facility regulated under this Article. However, the owner of a mariiuana microbusiness facility may apply for a license or licenses for other mariiuana or medical marijuana facilities under this Article. If granted one or more of these licenses, the marijuana microbusiness facility owner shall transition to other licensed operations on a reasonably practical timetable established by the department, and surrender its mariiuana microbusiness facility license to the department for issuance to an applicant for a marijuana microbusiness facility. In addition to other requirements established by this section, an applicant for a marijuana microbusiness license shall be majority owned bv individuals who each meet at least one of the following qualifications: (a) Have a net worth of less than $250,000 and have had an income below two hundred and fifty percent of the federal poverty level, or successor level. as set forth in the applicable calendar year's federal poverty income guidelines published be the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or its successor agency, for at least three of the ten calendar years prior to applying for a marijuana microbusiness facility license; or (b) Have a valid service-connected disability card issued bv the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or successor agency: or (c) Be a person who has been, or a person whose parent guardian or spouse has been arrested for, prosecuted for, or convicted of a non-violent marijuana offense, except for a conviction involving provision of marijuana to a minor, or a conviction of driving under the influence of marijuana. The arrest, charge. or conviction must have occurred at least one year prior to the effective date of this section; or (d) Reside in a ZIP code or census track area where: (i) Thirty percent or more of the population lives below the federal poverty level: or (ii) The rate of unemployment is fifty percent higher than the state average rate of unemployment; or (iii) The historic rate of incarceration for marijuana-related offenses is fifty percent higher than the rate for the entire state: or (e) Graduated from a school district that was unaccredited, or had a similar successor designation, at the time of graduation, or has lived in a zip code containing an unaccredited school district, or similar successor designation, for three of the past five years. (13) The department may restrict the aggregate number of licenses granted for marijuana microbusiness facilities, provided, however. that the number may not be limited to fewer than the following number of licenses in each United States congressional district in the state of Missouri pursuant to the map of each of the eight congressional districts as drawn and effective on December 6, 2018; (a) Six, once the department begins issuing licenses for marijuana microbusiness facilities under this subsection, at least two of which shall be a microbusiness dispensary facility, and at least four of which will be a microbusiness wholesale facility. The department shall issue the first group of microbusiness licenses no later than three hundred days after the effective date of this section; (b) An additional six following the first two hundred and seventy days after the department begins issuing licenses for marijuana microbusiness facilities under this subsection, at least two of which shall be a microbusiness dispensary facility, and at least four of which will be a microbusiness wholesale facility, but only after the chief equity officer, or his or her designee, conducts a review and certifies that previous microbusiness licenses were awarded to and are being operated by eligible applicants in good standing; and (c) An additional six after the first five hundred and forty-eight days after the department begins issuing licenses for marijuana microbusiness facilities under this subsection, at least two of which shall be a microbusiness dispensary facility, and at least four of which will be a microbusiness wholesale facility, but only after the chief equity officer, or his or her designee, conducts a review and certifies that previous microbusiness licenses were awarded to and are being operated in good standing by eligible applicants. Future changes to the boundaries or the number of congressional districts shall have no impact on microbusiness license numbers or distribution. The eligibility review set forth in this subdivision shall be conducted be the chief equity officer within sixty days of issuance of the licenses. The chief equity officer shall publish in a manner available to the public the results of the review that contains only aggregate information on licensee eligibility criteria. (14) Within 60 days after the effective date of this section, the department shall appoint a chief equity officer. The chief equity officer shall assist with the development and implementation of programs to inform the public of the opportunities available to those people who meet the criteria set forth in paragraph (2) of this subsection. The chief county officer shall establish public education programming and targeted technical assistance programming dedicated to providing communities that have been impacted by marijuana prohibition with information detailing the licensing process and informing individuals of the support and resources that the office can provide to individuals and entities interested in participating in the activity licensed under this Article. The chief equity officer shall provide a report to the department no later than January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, of their and the department’s activities in ensuring compliance with the applicant criteria set forth in paragraph (12) of this subsection and the department shall provide such report to the legislature. The chief equity officer may only be removed for cause and the department shall not interfere with the officer's lawful official activities under this section. (15) Any medical marijuana cultivation facility, medical marijuana dispensary facility, and medical mariluana-infused products manufacturing facility, holding an active facility license under section 1 of this Article shall have the right to convert their license to a comprehensive mariiuana license, and any entity certified be the department to conduct medical marijuana testing, transportation or seed-to-sale tracking, as of the effective date of this section shall be deemed certified to conduct those activities with respect to all marijuana; (16) Upon the effective date of this section, any existing medical facility licensee may request its medical facility license convert to that of a comprehensive facility license. Conversion requests not processed within sixty days of department receipt shall be deemed approved. (1) With the exception of microbusiness licenses. and consistent with any limitations set forth in this section, for the first five hundred and forty-eight days after the department begins issuing licenses for mariiuana facilities under this section, the department may only issue a license: (a) For a comprehensive marijuana cultivation facility to an entity holding a medical marijuana cultivation facility license issued pursuant to section l of this Article seeking to convert its licensure to that of a comprehensive marijuana cultivation facility at the same location; (b) For a comprehensive marijuana dispensary facility to an entity holding a medical marijuana dispensary facility license issued pursuant to section 1 of this Article seeking to convert its licensure to that of a comprehensive marijuana dispensary facility at the same location, and (c) For a comprehensive marijuana-infused products manufacturing facility to an entity holding a medical mariiuana-infused products manufacturing facility license issued pursuant to section l of this Article seeking to convert its licensure to that of a comprehensive mariiuana-infused products manufacturing facility at the same location. (18) The department shall issue a license to each request for a conversion to a comprehensive marijuana facility license pursuant to subdivision (15) of this subsection if the applicant is in wood standing with the department. (19) Notwithstanding the provisions of section l of this Articles if an existing medical marijuana dispensary facility is located in a jurisdiction that prohibits non-medical retail marijuana facilities under this section, or is otherwise prevented from operating a comprehensive mariiuana dispensary facility at the same location as the existing medical mariiuana dispensary facility, the medical marijuana dispensary facility may apply to the department for a comprehensive mariiuana dispensary license pursuant to subdivision (15) of this subsection in a new location within the same congressional district, and such application shall be granted so long as the new location meets all the requirements of this section and department regulations. (20) In addition to the forgoing, if the department has reason to believe that the conversion of a medical facility into a comprehensive facility might limit or restrict access to an adequate supply of marijuana and marijuana-infused products at a reasonable cost to qualifying patients, as defined in section 1 of this Article, the department may request a plan from the medical facility licensee which explains how the applicant would serve both the medical and adult-use markets. while maintaining adequate supply at a reasonable cost to qualifying patients. (21) Comprehensive marijuana facilities licensed to distribute marijuana, marijuana-infused products, and marijuana accessories directly to consumers pursuant to this section may also distribute marijuana, marijuana-infused products, and marijuana accessories to qualifying patients and primary caregivers consistent with section l of this Article and department regulation. (22)The department may charge a fee not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars for any certification issued pursuant to this section. This fee limitation shall be increased or decreased each year by the percentage of increase or decrease from the end of the previous calendar year of the Consumer Price Index, or successor index as published bv the U.S. Department of Labor, or its successor agency. (23) Within thirty days of December 8, 2022, the department shall make available to the public application forms and application instructions for personal cultivation registration cards. Within sixty days of December 8, 2022, the department shall begin accepting applications for such registration cards. (24) Except for good cause, a person at least twenty-one years of age may obtain a registration card from the department to cultivate up to six flowering marijuana plants, six nonflowering marijuana plants (over fourteen inches tall), and six clones (plants under fourteen inches tall) for non-commercial use, provided: (a) The plants and any marijuana produced be the plants in excess of three ounces are kept at one private residence, are in a locked space, and are not visible by normal, unaided vision from a public place; and (b) Not more than twelve flowering marijuana plants are kept in or on the grounds of a private residence at one time. The card shall be valid for twelve months from its date of issuance and shall be renewable. The department shall charge an annual fee for the card of one hundred dollars, with such rate to be increased or decreased each vear bv the percentage of increase or decrease from the end of the previous calendar year of the Consumer Price Index, or successor index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, or its successor agency. (25) All marijuana sold in Missouri pursuant to this section shall be cultivated in Missouri. (26) All marijuana-infused products sold in Missouri pursuant to this section shall be manufactured in Missouri. (27) The denial of a license or license renewal by the department shall be appealable. The applicant rnas choose to challenge any denial be the department through the administrative hearing commission or successor entity. Pursuant to section 536.100. RSMo, or its successor provisions, any licensee who has exhausted all administrative remedies provided by law and who is aggrieved by a final decision in a contested case is entitled to judicial review. (28) No elected official shall interfere directly or indirectly with the department’s obligations and activities under this section (29) To minimize the potential for undue political influence in awarding licenses, the department shall review license applications using reasonable safeguards that ensure the identity of the applicant and its principal owners, officers, and managers are not identified to the application reviewer. (30) To ensure the consistent protection of public health and public safety, the department shall have the sole authority within the state of Missouri to issue licenses for mariiuana facilities and certifications pursuant to this section. (31) The department shall not have the authority to promulgate, apply, or enforce any rule or regulation that is unduly burdensome or acts to undermine the purposes of this section. 5. Local Control. (1) (a) Except as Provided in this subsection, a local government may prohibit the operation of all microbusiness dispensary facilities or comprehensive marijuana dispensary facilities regulated under this section from being located within its jurisdiction either through referral of a ballot question to the voters by the governing body or through citizen petition, provided that citizen petitions are otherwise generally authorized by the laws of the local government. Such a ballot question shall be voted on only during the regularly scheduled general election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of a presidential election year, starting in 2024, thereby minimizing additional local governmental cost or expense. A citizen petition to put before the voters a ballot question prohibiting microbusiness dispensary facilities or comprehensive marijuana dispensary facilities shall be signed by at least five percent of the qualified voters in the area proposed to be subject to the prohibition, determined on the basis of the number of votes cast for governor in such locale at the last gubernatorial election held prior to the filing of the petition. The local government shall count the petition signatures and give legal notice of the election as provided by applicable law. Denial ot ballot access shall be subject to judicial review. (h) Whether submitted by the governing body or by citizen's petition, the question shall be submitted in the following form: "Shall (insert name of local government) ban all non-medical microbusiness dispensary facilities and comprehensive mariiuana dispensary facilities from being located within (insert name of local government and, where applicable its "unincorporated areas") and forgo any additional related local tax revenue? ()Yes ()No." If at least sixty percent of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the question, then the ban shall go into effect as provided by law. If a question receives less than the required sixty percent, then the jurisdiction shall have no power to ban non-medical microbusiness dispensary facilities or comprehensive mariiuana facilities regulated under this section, unless voters at a subsequent general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of a presidential election year approve a ban on non-medical retail marijuana facilities submitted to them by the governing body or be citizen petition. (2) (a) A local government may repeal an existing ban by its own ordinance or by a vote of the people, either through referral of a ballot question to the voters by the governing body or through Citizen petition, provided that citizen petitions are otherwise generally authorized by the laws of the local government. In the case of a referral of a ballot question by the governing body or citizen petition to repeal an existing ban, the question shall be voted on only during the regularly scheduled General election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of a presidential election year. A citizen petition to put before the voters a ballot question repealing an existing ban shall be signed be at least five percent of the qualified voters in the area subject to the ban, determined on the basis of the number of votes cast for governor in such locale at the last gubernatorial election held prior to the filing of the petition. The local government shall count the petition signatures and give legal notice of the election as provided by applicable law. Denial of ballot access shall be subject to judicial review. (b) Whether submitted be the governing body or bv citizen's petition, the question shall be submitted in the following form: "Shall (insert name of local government) allow non-medical microbusiness dispensary facilities and comprehensive marijuana dispensary facilities to be located within (insert name of local government and where applicable. its "unincorporated areas") as regulated by state law? () Yes () No." If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the question, then the ban shall be repealed. (3) The only local government ordinances and regulations that are binding on a marijuana facility are those of the local government where the marijuana facility is located. (4) Unless allowed by the local government, no new marijuana facility shall be initially sited within one thousand feet of any then-existing elementary or secondary school, child day-care center, or church. In the case of a freestanding facility, the distance between the facility and the school, daycare, or church shall be measured from the external wall of the facility structure closest in proximity to the school, daycare, or church to the closest point of the property line of the school, daycare, or church. If the school, daycare, or church is part of a larger structure, such as an office building or strip mall, the distance shall be measured to the entrance or exit of the school, daycare, or church closest in proximity to the facility. In the case of a facility that is part of a larger structure, such as an office building or strip mall, the distance between the facility and the school daycare, or church shall be measured from the property line of the school, daycare, or church to the facility’s entrance or exit closest in proximity to the school, daycare, or church. If the school, daycare. or church is part of a larger structure, such as an office building or strip mall, the distance shall be measured to the entrance or exit of the school, daycare, or church closest in proximity to the facility. Measurements shall be made along the shortest path between the demarcation points that can be lawfully traveled by foot. (5) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no local government shall prohibit marijuana facilities or entities with a transportation certification either expressly or through the enactment of ordinances or regulations that make their operation unduly burdensome in the jurisdiction. However, local governments may enact ordinances or regulations not in conflict with this section, or with regulations enacted pursuant to this section, governing the time, place, and manner of operation of such facilities in the locality. A local government may establish civil penalties for violation of an ordinance or regulations governing the time, place, and manner of operation of a mariiuana facility or entity holding a transportation certification that may operate in such locality. (6) Local governments may enact ordinances or regulations not in conflict with this section, or with regulations enacted pursuant to this section, governing: (a) the time and place where marijuana may be smoked in public areas within the locality; and (b) the consumption of marijuana-infused products within designated areas, including the preparation of culinary dishes or beverages by local restaurants for on-site consumption on the the same day it is prepared. 6. Taxation and Reporting. (1) A tax shall be levied upon the retail sale of non-medical marijuana sold to consumers at mariiuana facilities licensed pursuant to this section within the state. The tax shall be at a rate of six percent of the retail price. The tax shall be collected by each licensed retail marijuana facility and paid to the department of revenue. Afler retaining no more than two percent of the total tax collected or its actual collection costs, whichever is less, amounts generated by the marijuana tangible personal property retail sales tax levied in this section shall be deposited by the department of revenue into the "Veterans, Health, and Community Reinvestment Fund" created under this subsection. Licensed entities making non-medical retail sales within the state shall be allowed approved credit for returns provided the tax was paid on the returned item and the purchaser was given the refund or credit. This tax shall not apply to medical marijuana dispensed to a registered qualifying patient or caregiver. (2) There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Veterans’ Health, and Community Reinvestment Fund" which shall consist of taxes and fees collected under this section. The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund, and he or she shall invest monies in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any interest and moneys canned on such investments shall be credited to the fund. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any monies remaining in the fund at the end of a biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund. The commissioner of administration is authorized to make cash operating transfers to the fund for purposes of meeting the cash requirements of the department in advance of it receiving application, licensing. and tax revenue, with any such transfers to be repaid as provided by law. The fund shall be a dedicated fund and shall be distributed as follows: (a) First, as determined be appropriation, to the department an amount necessary for the department to carry out its responsibilities under this section, including repayment of any cash operating transfers, payments made through contract or agreement with other state and public agencies necessary to carry out this section, and a reserve fund to maintain a reasonable working cash balance for the purpose of carrying out this section: (b) Second, as determined by appropriation, to governmental entities in amounts necessary for carrying out responsibilities in the expungement of criminal history records under this section; (c) Next, the remaining fund balance shall be distributed in thirds as follows: (i) One-third of the remainder of the fund balance shall be transferred to the Missouri veterans commission and allied state agencies, as determined by appropriation, exclusively for health care and other services for military veterans and their dependent families; (ii) One-third of the remainder of the fund balance to the department to provide grants to agencies and not-for-profit organizations, whether government or community-based, to increase access to evidence-based low-barrier drug addiction treatment, prioritizing medically proven treatment and overdose prevention and reversal methods and public or private treatment options with an emphasis on reintegrating recipients into their local communities, to support overdose prevention education, and to support job placement housing, and counseling for those with substance use disorders. Agencies and organizations serving populations with the highest rates of drug-related overdose shall be prioritized to receive the grants; and (iii) One-third of the remainder of the fund balance to the Missouri public defender system. Any moneys credited to the Missouri public defender system shall be used only for legal assistance for low-income Missourians, shall not be diverted to any other purpose (d) All monies from the taxes and fees authorized hereunder shall provide new and additional funding for the purposes enumerated above and shall not replace existing funding. (e) The unexpended balance existing in the fund shall be exempt from the provisions of section 33.080, RSMo. or its successor provisions, relating to the transfer of unexpended balances to the General Revenue fund. (3) For all retail sales of marijuana, a record shall be kept bv the seller of all amounts and types of marijuana involved in the sale and the total amount of money involved in the sale, including itemizations, taxes collected, and grand total sale amounts. All such records shall be kept on the premises in a readily available format and be made available for review by the department and the department of revenue upon request. Such recordsshall be retained for five years from the date of the sale. (4) The tax levied pursuant to this subsection is separate from and in addition to any General state and local sales and use taxes that apply to retail sales, which shall continue to be collected and distributed as provided by general law. (5) Pursuant to Article III, section 49 of this Constitution, the governing body of any local government is authorized to impose, by ordinance or order, an additional sales tax in an amount not to exceed three percent on all tangible personal property retail sales of adult use marijuana sold in such political subdivision. The tax authorized by this paragraph shall be in addition to any and all other tangible personal property retail sales taxes allowed by law, except that no ordinance or order imposing a tangible personal property retail sales tax under the provisions of this paragraph shall be effective unless the governing body of the political subdivision submits to the voters of the political subdivision, at a municipal, county or state general, primary or special election, a proposal to authorize the governing body of the political subdivision to impose a tax. Any additional local retail sales tax shall be collected pursuant to General laws for the collection of local sales taxes. (6) Except as authorized in this Article. no additional taxes shall be imposed on the sale of marijuana. (7) The fees and taxes provided for in this section shall be fiilly enforceable notwithstanding any other provision in this Constitution purportedly prohibiting or restricting the taxes and fees provided for herein. (8) For taxpayers authorized to do business pursuant to this Article, the amount that would have been deducted in the computation of federal taxable income pursuant to 26 U.S.C. Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code as in effect on January 1. 2021, or successor provisions, but is disallowed because cannabis is a controlled substance under federal law, shall be subtracted from the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income, in determining the taxpayer’s Missouri adjusted gross income. 7. Additional Protections. (1) A marijuana testing facility shall not be subject to civil or criminal prosecution under Missouri law, denial of any right or privilege, civil or administrative penalty or sanction, or disciplinary action by any accreditation or licencing board or commission for providing laboratory testing services that relate to marijuana consistent with this section and otherwise meeting legal standards of professional conduct. (2) Notwithstanding any provision of Article V to the contrary, an attorney shall not be subject to disciplinary action be the Supreme Court of Missouri, the office of chief disciplinary counsel, the state bar association, any state agency or any professional licensing body for any of the following: (a) owning, operating, investing in, being employed by, or contracting with prospective or licensed marijuana testing facilities, marijuana cultivation facilities, mariiuana dispensary facilities, marijuana-infused products, manufacturing facilities, marijuana microbusiness facilities, or transportation certificate holders; b) counseling, advising,and/or assisting a client in conduct permitted by Missouri law that may violate or conflict with federal or other law, as long as the attorney advises the client about that federal or other law and its potential consequences; (c) counseling, advising, and/or assisting a client in connection with applying for, owning, operating, or otherwise having any legal, equitable, or beneficial interest in marijuana testing facilities, marijuana cultivation facilities, marijuana dispensary facilities, marijuana-infused products manufacturing facilities, marijuana microbusiness facilities, or transportation certificates; or (d) counseling, advising or assisting a qualifying patient, primary caregiver, physician, nurse practitioner, health care provider, consumer, or other client related to activity that is no longer subject to criminal penalties under Missouri law pursuant to this Article. (3) Actions and conduct by marijuana facilities licensed or otherwise certified by the department or their employees or agents, as permitted by this section and in compliance with department regulations and other standards of legal conduct shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions under Missouri law, except as provided for by this section. (4) The department may not promulgate a rule that requires a consumer to provide a marijuana facility with identifying information other than identification to determine the consumer's age. (5) It is the public policy of the state of Missouri that contracts related to marijuana that are entered into by marijuana facilities and those who allow property to be used by those entities should be enforceable. It is the public policy of the state of Missouri that no contract entered into by mariluana facilities, or by a person who allows property to be used for activities that are exempt from state criminal penalties by this section, shall be unenforceable on the basis that activities related to mariiuana may be prohibited by federal law. (6) Prior to requesting a search or arrest warrant relating to cultivation of marijuana plants, a state or local law enforcement official shall verify with the department whether the targeted person holds a registration card allowing for cultivation of flowering marijuana plants under this section, and shall inform the issuing authority when making the warrant request. Evidence of marijuana alone, without specific evidence indicating that the marijuana is outside of what is lawful for medical or adult use, cannot be the basis for a search of a patient or non-patient, including their home, vehicle, or other property. Lawful marijuana related activities cannot be the basis for a violation of parole, probation, or any type of supervised release. State and local law enforcement shall have access to such department information as is necessary to confirm whether the targeted person holds a registration card. Each time a state or local law enforcement officer executes a search warrant authorizing entry upon premises for an alleged marijuana offense, the officer must first knock or announce their presence or purpose prior to entering the premises. (7) (a) After executing a search warrant for an alleged marijuana offense, or conducting a warrantless search for an alleged marijuana offense, the officer shall report the following information to the agency that employs the officer: (i) The reasons for the warrant or, in the case of a warrantless search, a detailed account of either the probable cause or eminent circumstances, if any, which lead to the warrantless search; (ii) Whether any marijuana was discovered during the course of the search: (iii) Whether any marijuana was seized during the search, and if so, the amount seized; (iv) Whether any other contraband was discovered or seized in the course of the search,and if seized, a description of the contraband; (v) A description of the tactics used by law enforcement to enter the property; (vi) Whether an arrest was made as a result of the search: and (vii) If an arrest was made, the crime suspected. (b) Each law enforcement agency shall compile the data described in paragraph (a) of this subdivision for the calendar year into a rsport and shall submit the report to the attorney general no later than March first of the following calendar year. The attorney general shall determine the format that all law enforcement agencies shall use to submit the report. (c) The attorney general shall submit a summary of the annual reports of law enforcement agencies to the governor, the general assembly, and each law enforcement agency no later than June first of each year. The summary shall include the total number of such warrants executed by each agency in the previous calendar year for alleged marijuana offenses, and a compilation of the information reported by law enforcement agencies pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision. 8. Legislation. Nothing in this section shall limit the general assembly from enacting laws consistent with the purposes and provisions of this section. 9. Additional Provisions. (1) No owner of a marijuana facility or entity with a transportation certification shall be an individual with a disqualifying felony offense. A "disqualifying felony offense" is a violation of, and conviction or guilty plea to, state or federal law that is, or would have been, a felony under Missouri law, regardless of the sentence imposed, unless the department determines that: (a) The person's conviction was for a marijuana offense that has been expunged or is currently eligible for expungement under this section; or (b) The person's conviction was for a non-violent crime for which he or she was not incarcerated and that is more than five years old; or (c ) More than five years have passed since the person was released from parole or probation, and he or she has not been convicted of any subsequent felony criminal offenses. The department may consult with and rely on the records, advice, and recommendations of the attorney general and the department of public safety, or their successor entities, in carrying out the provisions of this subdivision, (2) Owners licensed pursuant to this section shall submit fingerprints to the Missouri state highway patrol for the purpose of conducting a state and federal fingerprint-based criminal record check in accordance with U.S. Public Law 92-544. or its successor provisions. The Missouri state highway patrol, if necessary, shall forward the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the purpose of conducting a fingerprint-based criminal background check. Fingerprints shall be submitted pursuant to section 43.543. RSMo, or its successor provisions, and fees shall be paid pursuant to section 43.530, RSMo, or its successor provisions. Unless otherwise required by law, no individual shall be recurred to submit fingerprints more than once. (3) No marijuana facility shall manufacture, package, label, marijuana or marijuana infused products in a false or misleading manner. No person shall sell any product in a manner designed to cause confusion between marijuana or a marijuana-infused product and any product not containing marijuana. A violation of this subdivision shall be punishable bv an appropriate and proportional department sanction, up to and including an administrative penalty of five thousand dollars and loss of license. (4) No mariiuana facility may sell edible marijuana-infused candy in shapes or packages that are attractive to children or that are easily confused with commercially sold candy that does not contain marijuana. A violation of this subdivision shall be punishable by an appropriate and proportional department sanction, up to and including an administrative penalty of five thousand dollars and loss of license, (5) All marijuana and marijuana-infused products shall be sold in individual, child-resistant containers that are labeled with serving amounts, instructions for use, and estimated length of effectiveness. All marijuana and marijuana-infused products shall be sold in containers clearly and conspicuously labeled, as mandated by the department, as containing "Marijuana" or a "Marijuana-Infused Product." Violation of this subdivision shall subject the violator to department sanctions, including an administrative penalty of five thousand dollars. (6) A marijuana facility may not allow cultivation, manufacturing, sale, or display of marijuana, marijuana-infused products, or marijuana accessories to be visible from a public place outside of the marijuana facility without the use of binoculars, aircraft, or other optical aids. (7) A marijuana facility may not cultivate, manufacture, test, sell, or store marijuana at any location other than a physical address approved by the department and within an enclosed area that is secured in a manner that prevents access by persons not permitted by the mariluana facility to access the area. (8) A marijuana facility shall secure every entrance to the facility so that access to areas containing marijuana is restricted to employees and other persons permitted by the marijuana facility to access the area and to agents of the department or state and local law enforcement officers and emergency personnel and shall secure its inventory and equipment during and after operating hours to deter and prevent theft of marijuana, marijuana-infused products. and marijuana accessories. (9) No marijuana facility may refuse representatives of the department the right to inspect the licensed premises or to audit the books and records of the marijuana facility. A facility that holds licenses issued under sections I and 2 of this Article shall comply with inspection regulations and standards issued pursuant to both sections. (10) No marijuana facility, or entity with a certification, shall assign, sell, give, lease, sublicense, or otherwise transfer its license or certificate to any other entity without the express consent of the department not to be unreasonably withheld. (11) Real and personal property used in the cultivation, manufacture, transport, testing. distribution. sale, and administration of marijuana for activities otherwise in compliance with this section shall not be subject to asset forfeiture solely because of that use. (12) No person shall extract resins from marijuana usine dangerous materials or combustible gases without a medical mariiuana-infused products manufacturing facility license. mariiuana-infused products manufacturing facility license, or a mariiuana microbusiness wholesale facility license. Violation of this prohibition shall subject the violator to department sanctions, including an administrative penalty of one thousand dollars for an individual and ten thousand dollars for a facility licensee and, if applicable, loss of certificate or license for up to one year. 10. Personal Use of Marijuana (1) Subject to the limitations in subsection 3 of this section, the following acts by a person at least twenty-one years of age are not unlawful and shall not be an offense under state law or the laws of any local government within the state or be a basis to impose a civil fine, penalty, or sanction, or be a basis to detain, search, or arrest or otherwise deny any right or privilege, or to seize or forfeit assets under state law or the laws of any local government: (a) Purchasing, possessing, consuming, using, ingesting, inhaling, processing, transporting, delivering without consideration, or distributive without consideration three ounces or less of dried, unprocessed marijuana, or its equivalent; (b) Possessing, transporting, planting, cultivating, harvesting, drying, processing, or manufacturing up to six flowering mariiuana plants, six non flowering marijuana plants (over fourteen inches tall), and six clones (plants under fourteen inches tall) provided the person is registered with the department for cultivation of marijuana plants under this section, provided: (i) The plants and any marijuana produced by the plants in excess of three ounces are kept at one private residence, are in a locked space, and are not visible by normal, unaided vision from a public place, and (ii) Not more than twice the number of allowable plants under paragraph b) of this subdivision are kept in or on the grounds of a private residence at one time. (c ) Assisting another person who is at least twenty-one years of age in, or allowing property to be used for. any of the acts permitted by this section; and (d) Purchasing, possessing, using, delivering, distributing, manufacturing, transferring, or selling to persons twenty-one years of age or older marijuana accessories. (2) A person who, pursuant to this section, cultivates marijuana plants that are visible by normal, unaided vision from a public place is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars and forfeiture of the marijuana. (3) A person who, pursuant to this section, cultivates marijuana plants that are not kept in a locked space is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars and forfeiture of the marijuana- (4) A person who smokes marijuana in a public place, other than in an area licensed for such activity by the authorities having jurisdiction over the licensing and/or permitting of said activity, is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars. (5) A person who is under twenty-one Years of age who possesses, uses, ingests, inhales, transports, delivers without consideration or distributes without consideration three ounces or less of marijuana, or possesses, delivers without consideration, or distributes without consideration marijuana accessories is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed one hundred dollars and forfeiture of the marijuana. Any such person shall be provided the option of attending up to four hours of drug education or counseling in lieu of the fine. (6) Subject to the limitations of this section, a person who possesses not more than twice the amount of marijuana allowed pursuant to this subsection, produces not more than twice the amount of marijuana allowed pursuant to this subsection, delivers without receiving any consideration or remuneration to a person who is at least twenty-one years of age not more than twice the amount of marijuana allowed by this subsection, or possesses with intent to deliver not more than twice the amount of mariuana allowed by this subsection: (a) For a first violation, is subject to a civil infraction punishable by a civil penalty not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars and forfeiture of the marijuana: (b) For a second violation, is subject to a civil refraction punishable be a civil penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars and forfeiture of the marijuana; (c) For a third or subsequent violation is subject to a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding one-thousand dollars and forfeiture of the marijuana; (d) A person under twenty-one years of age is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed two hundred and fifty dollars. Any such person shall be provided the option of attending up to eight hours of drug education or counseling in lieu of the fine: and e) In lieu of payment penalties under this subsection may be satisfied by the performance of community service. The rate of pay-down associated with said service option will be the greater of $15 or the minimum wage in effect at the time of judgment. (7) (a) Any person currently incarcerated in a prison, jail or halfway house, whether be trial or open or negotiated plea: (i) Who would not have been guilty of an adult or juvenile offense, had sections 1 and 2 of this Article been in effect at the time of the offense; or (ii) Who would have been guilty of a lesser adult or juvenile offense had sections 1 and 2 of this Article been in effect at the time of the offense; or (iii) Who is serving a sentence for a marijuana offense which is a misdemeanor, a class E felony, or a class D felony, or successor designations; involving possession of three pounds or less of marijuana, excluding offenses involving distribution or delivery to a minor, any offenses involving violence, or any offense of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana; may petition the sentencing court to vacate the sentence, order immediate release from incarceration and other supervision bv the department of corrections, and the expungement of all government records of the case. Such expungement from all government records shall be granted for all of the person's applicable marijuana offenses, absent good cause for denial. The effect of such orders shall be to restore such person to the status the person occupied prior to such arrest, plea or conviction and as if such event had never taken place. and the conviction and sentence shall be vacated as legally invalid. No person for whom such order has been entered shall be held thereafter under any provision of anv law to be guilty of perjury or otherwise giving a false statement by reason of the person's failure to recite or acknowledge such arrest, plea, trial, conviction, or expungement in response to any inquiry made of the person for any purpose whatsoever, and no such inquiry shall be made for information relating to an expungement. The court shall not assess any filing fee for these fines. The office of the state public defender shall prepare and make readily available and accessible a pleading form that may be filed pro se for this purpose. The circuit courts of the state shall also make readily available and accessible this pleading form. Within ninety days of the effective date of this section, the sentencing court shall complete the adjudication for all cases involving only misdemeanor marijuana offenses. Within one hundred and seventy days of the effective date of this section, the sentencing court shall complete the adjudication for all cases involving class E, or successor designation, felony marijuana offenses and, if applicable, any additional marijuana misdemeanor offenses by such offenders. Within two hundred and seventy days of the effective date of this section, the sentencing court shall complete the adjudication for all class D, or successor designation, felony cases involving three pounds or less of marijuana, as well as any lesser marijuana offenses by such offenders, if applicable. This shall not apply to offenses while operating a commercial motor vehicle as defined in 49 CFR 390.5, or its successor provisions, in interstate or intrastate transportation unless otherwise exempted as found in section 307.400. RSMo. or its successor provisions. (b) Any person currently on probation or parole for a marijuana law violation, whether by trial or open or negotiated plea, (i) would not have been found guilty of an adult or juvenile offense, had sections 1 and 2 of this article been in effect at the time of the offense, or (ii) who would have been guilty of a lesser adult or juvenile offense had sections 1 and 2 of this article been in effect at the time of the offense, or (iii) Who was convicted or plead guilty to a marijuana offense which is a misdemeanor, a class E felony, or a class D felony, or successor designations, involving the possession of three pounds or less of marijuana, excluding distribution or delivery to a minor or any offense of operating motor vehicle while under the influence of mariiuana; shall, upon the effective date of this section, have their sentence automatically vacated by the sentencing court, which shall order the immediate termination of supervision bv the department of corrections. and the expungement of all government records of the case. Such expungement from all government records shall be wanted for all of the person's applicable marijuana offenses, absent good cause for denial. The effect of such orders shall be to restore such person to the status the person occupied prior to such arrest. Plea or conviction and as if such event had never taken place and the conviction and sentence shall be vacated as legally invalid. No person for whom such order has been entered shall be held thereafter under any provision of any law to be ouiltv of perjury or otherwise giving a false statement by reason of the person's failure to recite or acknowledge such arrest, plea, trial, conviction, or expungement in response to any inquiry made of the person for any purpose whatsoever, and no such inquiry shall be made for information relating to an expungement. The court shall not assess anv filing fee for these cases. This shall not apply to offenses while operating a commercial motor vehicle as defined in 49 CFR 390.5. or its successor provisions, in interstate or intrastate transportation unless otherwise exempted as found in section 307.400, RSMo, or its successor provisions. (8) (a) Within six months of the effective date of this section, the circuit courts of this state shall order the expungement of the criminal history records of all misdemeanor marijuana offenses for any person who is no longer incarcerated or under the supervision of the department of corrections. Within twelve months of the effective date of this section, the circuit courts of this state shall order the expungement of criminal history records for all persons no longer incarcerated or under the supervision of the department of corrections but who have completed their sentence for any felony marijuana offenses and any mariiuana offenses that would no longer be a crime after the effective dates of sections l and 2 of this Article, excluding distribution or delivery to a minor, any such offenses involving violence, or any offense of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana. For all class A, class B and class C, or successor designations, felony mariiuana offenses, and for all class D, or successor designation, felony marijuana offenses for possession of more than three pounds of marijuana, the circuit courts of this state shall order expungement of criminal history records upon the completion of the person's incarceration, including any supervised probation or parole. For the purposes of this subdivision. "criminal history record" means all information documenting an individual's contact with the criminal justice system, including data regarding identification, arrest or citation, arraignment, judicial disposition, custody, and supervision. (b) An expungement order shall be legally effective immediately and the person whose record is expunged shall be treated in all respects as if he or she had never been arrested, convicted, or sentenced for the offense, and the conviction and sentence shall be vacated as legally invalid. The court shall issue an order to expunge all records and files related to the arrest, citation, investigation, charge, adjudication of guilt, criminal proceedings, and probation related to the sentence. The court shall provide notice of the expungement to the person who is the subject of the record at the person’s last known address, the arresting agency, prosecuting attorneys, central state depository of criminal records, and any other entity that may have a record related to the order to expunge. The central state depository of criminal records shall provide notice of the expungement to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Crime Information Center, or its successor agency. The court shall issue the person a certificate stating that the offense for which the person was convicted has been expunged and that its effect is to annul the record of arrest, conviction, and sentence. (c) The effect of such expungement shall be to restore such person to the status the person occupied prior to such arrest, plea, or conviction and as if such event had never taken place. Such person shall not be required to acknowledge the existence of such a criminal history record or answer questions about the record in any application for employment, license, or civil right or privilege or in an appearance as a witness in any proceeding or hearing, and may deny the existence of the record reward less of whether the person has received notice from the court that an expungement order has been issued on the person's behalf. (d) No person shall be prosecuted again for any offense which has been vacated or expunged. (e) The court shall keep a special index of cases that have been expunged together with the expungement order and the certificate issued pursuant to this subsection. The index shall list only the name of the person convicted of the offense, his or her date of birth, the docket number, and the criminal offense that was the subject of the expungement. The special index and related documents shall be confidential and shall be physically and electronically segregated in a manner that ensures confidentiality and that limits access to authorized persons. The court may permit special access to the index and the documents for research purposes pursuant to the rules for public access to court records. The index and documents made available by the court rnas not include any identifying information. (9) A person currently under parole, probation, or other state supervision, or released awaiting trial or other hearing, may not be punished or otherwise penalized based solely on conduct that is permitted by this section. (10) No conduct permitted by this section shall constitute the basis for detention, search, or arrest; and except when law enforcement is investigating whether a person is operating a motor vehicle, train, aircraft, motorboat or other motorized form of transport while under the influence of marijuana, the odor of marijuana or burnt marijuana, the possession or suspicion of possession of marijuana without evidence of a quantity in excess of the lawful amount, or the possession of multiple containers of marijuana without evidence of quantity in excess of the lawful amount shall not individually or in combination with each other constitute reasonable articulable suspicion of a crime. Marijuana and marijuana-infused products as permitted by this section are not contraband nor subject to seizure. (11) A person shall not be denied eligibility in public assistance programs or public benefits based solely on conduct that is permitted by this Article, unless required by federal law. (12) No person shall be denied their rights under Article 1, section 23 of the Missouri Constitution, solely for conduct that is permitted bv this section. (13) No person shall be denied parental rights, custody of, or visitation with a minor child by a state or local government executive agency based solely on conduct that is permitted by this section, unless the person's behavior is such that it creates an unreasonable danger to a minor child that can be established by clear and convincing evidence. 11. Interstate Commerce. lf federal law,rules, or regulations are amended to allow the interstate commerce of marijuana or marijuana-infused products or the importation or exportation of marijuana or marijuana-infused products into or out of the state of Missouri, the provisions and intent of this section shall, to the extent possible, remain in full effect, unless explicitly preempted by such federal law, rule, or regulation. If federal law, rules, or regulations are amended as provided above, any marliuana or marijuana-infused products imported into this state shall be subject to the same testing standards and seed to sale tracking system required under this section for marijuana and marijuana-infused products produced within the state, unless federal law, rules, or regulations explicitly require otherwise, no entity shall sell, transport, produce, distribute, deliver, or cultivate marijuana or marijuana-infused products without an applicable license or certificate as required under this section. In addition, any raw biomass of marijuana or marijuana flower imported from out-of-state shall be received only by a licensed cultivation facility, while all batch oil, infused marijuana products and any marijuana product in any other form shall be received only by a licensed manufacturing facility. 12. Severability The provisions of this section are severable, and if any clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this measure, or an application thereof, is adjudged invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions shall continue to be in effect to the fullest extent possible. 13. Effective Date. The provisions of this section shall become effective thirty days after the election, as provided by this Constitution.[8] |
Readability score
- See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2022
Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The secretary of state wrote the ballot language for this measure.
The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 12, and the FRE is 24. The word count for the ballot title is 143.
The FKGL for the ballot summary is grade level 15, and the FRE is 26. The word count for the ballot summary is 121.
Support
Legal Missouri 2022 led the campaign in support of Amendment 3.[9]
Supporters
Officials
- State Rep. Nick Schroer (R)
- Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas
Unions
Organizations
- ACLU of Missouri
- Boone County Democratic Central Committee
- Communities Creating Opportunity
- Empower Missouri
- Freedom Inc.
- Greater St. Louis NORML
- MU NORML
- Mid-MO Civil Liberties Association
- Mid-MO NORML
- Missouri AFL-CIO
- Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Missouri NORML
- Mizzou College Democrats
- MoCannTrade
- NAACP Columbia
- NAACP Saint Louis County
- NAACP St. Louis City
- NORML KC
- Northwest Missouri NORML
- Our Revolution - St. Joseph Chapter
- Reale Justice Network
- Southeast Missouri State University NORML
- St. Joseph/NWMO NORML
Arguments
Opposition
The Save Our State PAC was leading the opposition to this ballot measure.[10]
Opponents
Officials
- Governor Mike Parson (R)
- State Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove (D)
- St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones (Nonpartisan)
- Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R)
Organizations
- Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
- Missouri Catholic Conference
- Missouri Constitutional Conservatives PAC
- Missouri NAACP
- Pro-Choice Missouri
Arguments
Campaign finance
Legal Missouri 2022 was registered as a political action committee (PAC) in support of the ballot initiative. The PAC had raised $8.77 million and spent $9.72 million.[6] The Save Our State PAC was registered in opposition to the ballot initiative.[10]
.sbtotaltable { width: 50%; } .sbtotaltable th { font-size:1.2em; } .sbtotaltable td { text-align:center; } .sbtotalheader { background-color: black !important; color:white !important; font-size:1.0em; font-weight:bold; } .sbtotaltotal { font-weight:bold; }
Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Support | $7,925,438.76 | $847,154.34 | $8,772,593.10 | $8,877,099.66 | $9,724,254.00 |
Oppose | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Support
The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committee in support of the measure.[6]
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Committees in support of Amendment 3 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Committee | Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures |
Legal Missouri 2022 | $7,925,438.76 | $847,154.34 | $8,772,593.10 | $8,877,099.66 | $9,724,254.00 |
Total | $7,925,438.76 | $847,154.34 | $8,772,593.10 | $8,877,099.66 | $9,724,254.00 |
Donors
The following were the top donors to the committee.[6]
Donor | Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions |
---|---|---|---|
New Growth Horizon LLC | $697,500.00 | $150,000.00 | $847,500.00 |
BD Health Ventures LLC | $715,000.00 | $0.00 | $715,000.00 |
Green Four Ventures LLC | $488,000.00 | $0.00 | $488,000.00 |
Good Day Farm Missouri LLC | $450,000.00 | $0.00 | $450,000.00 |
Organic Remides MO Inc | $305,000.00 | $0.00 | $305,000.00 |
Opposition
The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in opposition to the initiative.[6]
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Committees in opposition to Amendment 3 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Committee | Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures |
Save Our State | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Total | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Media editorials
- See also: 2022 ballot measure media endorsements
Support
The following media editorial boards published an editorial supporting the ballot measure:
Opposition
The following media editorial boards published an editorial opposing the ballot measure:
Polls
- See also: 2022 ballot measure polls
- Are you aware of a poll on this ballot measure that should be included below? You can share ballot measure polls, along with source links, with us at [email protected].
Missouri Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emerson College Polling/The Hill | 10/26/22-10/28/22 | 1,000 LV | ± 3.0% | 47% | 39% | 14% |
Question: "Do you support or oppose Missouri Amendment 3, which would amend the Missouri Constitution to allow the purchase, possession, use, and sale of marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of 21. This amendment would also allow individuals with certain marijuana-related offenses to petition for release from prison or parole and probation and have their records expunged." | ||||||
Emerson College Polling/The Hill | 9/23/22-9/27/22 | 1,160 LV | ± 2.8% | 48% | 35% | 17% |
Question: "Do you support or oppose Missouri Amendment 3, which would amend the Missouri Constitution to allow the purchase, possession, use, and sale of marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of 21. This amendment would also allow individuals with certain marijuana-related offenses to petition for release from prison or parole and probation and have their records expunged." | ||||||
SurveyUSA | 9/14/22-9/18/22 | 670 LV | ± 4.3% | 62% | 22% | 16% |
Question: "Missourians will also vote on a ballot measure, Amendment 3, which would ...
|
||||||
Remington/MOScout | 9/7/22-9/8/22 | 1,117 LV | ± 2.8% | 43% | 47% | 10% |
Question: "Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to remove state prohibitions on purchasing, possessing, consuming, and selling marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of twenty-one; impose a six percent tax on the retail price of marijuana to benefit various programs, and allow persons with certain marijuana-related non-violent offenses to have records expunged?" | ||||||
Note: LV is likely voters, RV is registered voters, and EV is eligible voters. |
Background
Medical marijuana legalization in Missouri
In 2018, voters approved of Amendment 2 to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. Amendment 2 was approved with 65.59 percent of the vote.
Amendment 2 legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, taxed marijuana sales at 4 percent, and required spending tax revenue on healthcare services for veterans. It allowed state-licensed physicians to recommend marijuana use to patients with nine qualifying conditions and additional conditions with a doctor's approval. Patients were allowed to grow six flowering plants in their homes; purchase 4 ounces of dried marijuana or equivalent; and possess not less than a 60-day supply of dried marijuana or equivalent (more permitted with written certification from two independent physicians). Amendment 2 levied a tax on the sale of medical marijuana at 4 percent and allocated revenue from the tax toward providing healthcare services, job training, housing assistance, and other services for veterans. Amendment 2 tasked the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services with overseeing and regulating the state's medical marijuana program. The ballot initiative authorized not less than 24 dispensaries in each of the state's eight congressional districts, based on 2018 boundaries.[11]
Prior to 2018, medical marijuana was not legalized for use or possession.
Recreational marijuana by state
As of November 2024, 24 states and Washington, D.C., had legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes.[12][13][14][15]
- In 13 states and D.C., the ballot initiative process was used to legalize marijuana.
- In two states, the legislature referred a measure to the ballot for voter approval.
- In nine states, bills to legalize marijuana were enacted into law.
The following table provides information about when and how recreational marijuana became legal.
Timeline and process of recreational marijuana legalization | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Year legalized | Process used | Votes on ballot measures | ||
For | Against | ||||
Colorado | 2012 | Initiative | 55.32% | 44.68% | |
Washington | 2012 | Initiative | 55.70% | 44.30% | |
Alaska | 2014 | Initiative | 53.23% | 46.77% | |
Oregon | 2014 | Initiative | 56.11% | 43.89% | |
Washington, D.C. | 2014 | Initiative | 70.06% | 29.94% | |
California | 2016 | Initiative | 57.13% | 42.87% | |
Maine | 2016 | Initiative | 50.26% | 49.74% | |
Massachusetts | 2016 | Initiative | 53.66% | 46.34% | |
Nevada | 2016 | Initiative | 54.47% | 45.53% | |
Michigan | 2018 | Initiative | 55.89% | 44.11% | |
Vermont | 2018 | Legislation | N/A | N/A | |
Illinois | 2019 | Legislation | N/A | N/A | |
Arizona | 2020 | Initiative | 60.03% | 39.97% | |
Montana | 2020 | Initiative | 56.90% | 43.10% | |
New Jersey | 2020 | Referral | 67.08% | 32.92% | |
New York | 2021 | Legislation | N/A | N/A | |
Virginia | 2021 | Legislation | N/A | N/A | |
New Mexico | 2021 | Legislation | N/A | N/A | |
Connecticut | 2021 | Legislation | N/A | N/A | |
Rhode Island | 2022 | Legislation | N/A | N/A | |
Maryland | 2022 | Referral | 67.20% | 32.80% | |
Missouri | 2022 | Initiative | 53.10% | 46.90% | |
Delaware | 2023 | Legislation | N/A | N/A | |
Minnesota | 2023 | Legislation | N/A | N/A | |
Ohio | 2023 | Initiative | 57.19% | 42.81% |
Comparison of ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana
The following table compares a selection of ballot measure provisions, such as possession limits, local control, taxes, and revenue dedications.
Click "Show" to expand the table.
Comparison of marijuana ballot measure provisions, 2012-2023 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Measure | Possession limits | Homegrown plants | Local control | State taxes | Revenue |
Marijuana legalization ballot measures that were approved, 2012-2023 | |||||
Ohio Issue 2 (2023) | • 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrates | • Six marijuana plants per individual or 12 plants per household | • A municipality cannot limit research on marijuana, levy a tax or fee on marijuana businesses, prohibit home growing of marijuana, or limit anything authorized by the initiative. A municipality can adopt an ordinance or resolution by a majority vote to prohibit or limit the number of cannabis operators in the territory. If such an ordinance or resolution is adopted, a dispensary needs to cease operations within 60 days. A dispensary can file a petition with the board of elections within the 60-day timeframe to request a public vote on whether or not the dispensary should remain open. | • 10% sales tax | • 36% to the cannabis social equity and jobs fund to fund the implementation of the program; 36% to the host community cannabis fund to provide funds to jurisdictions with adult-use dispensaries based on the percentage of adult-use tax attributable to each municipality or township; 25% to the substance abuse and addiction fund to fund the department of mental health and addiction services in alleviating substance and opiate abuse and supporting related research; and 3% to the division of cannabis control and tax commissioner fund to fund operations of the division of cannabis control. |
Maryland Question 4 (2022) | • Not specified | • Not specified | • Not specified | • Not specified | • Not specified |
Missouri Amendment 3 (2022) | • 3 ounces of marijuana | • Grow up to six flowering plants, six nonflowering plants, and six clones, if the person is registered to cultivate marijuana plants | • Local government may prohibit operation of all marijuana facilities located within its jurisdiction • Local government may enact ordinances governing time, place, and manner of operations of marijuana facilities, as well as the public smoking and consumption of marijuana products |
• 6% tax on retail price of recreational marijuana • Governing body of any local government may impose an additional sales tax to retail sales of marijuana that cannot exceed 3% |
• Veterans, Health, and Community Reinvestment Fund |
Arizona Proposition 207 (2020) | • 1 ounce of marijuana • 5 grams (0.18 ounces) of marijuana concentrate |
• Grow up to 6 marijuana plants | • Municipalities allowed to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries | • 16% excise sales tax | • community college districts • police and fire departments and fire districts • highways • new criminal justice fund (restorative programs, mentoring, and behavioral health) |
Montana I-190 (2020) | • 1 ounce of marijuana | • Individuals could grow up to four marijuana plants and four seedling in a private residence in a locked space | • A local government is not allowed to completely ban marijuana cultivators, testing facilities, wholesalers, or retail stores from operating in its limits; cannot prohibit the transportation of marijuana on public roads in its jurisdiction by those who are licensed to do so; allowed to pass ordinances to regulate an adult-use provider or adult-use marijuana-infused products that operate in its jurisdiction | • 20% sales tax | • After the tax revenue is used by the Department of Revenue to cover costs associated with implementing the initiative, 10.5% of the remaining revenue would be appropriated to the state's general fund, and the remainder would be appropriated to conservation programs, substance abuse treatment, veterans’ services, healthcare costs, and localities where marijuana is sold |
New Jersey Amendment (2020) | • Not specified | • Not specified | • Not specified | • Subject to state sales tax • Prohibits additional state sales taxes on marijuana |
• Not specified |
Michigan Proposal 1 (2018) | • 2.5 ounces of marijuana • 0.5 ounces of marijuana concentrate |
•Grow up to 12 marijuana plants | •Municipalities allowed to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries | •10% excise sales tax | •local governments •K-12 education •road and bridge maintenance |
California Proposition 64 (2016) | • 1 ounce of marijuana • 0.3 ounces of marijuana concentrate |
•Grow up to 6 marijuana plants | •Municipalities allowed to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries | •15% excise sales tax •$9.25/ounce cultivation tax for flowers •$2.75/ounce cultivation tax for leaves |
•youth drug education, prevention, and treatment •prevent and fix environmental damage from illegal marijuana producers •marijuana DUI prevention and negative health effects programs |
Nevada Question 2 (2016) | • 1 ounce of marijuana • 0.125 ounces of marijuana concentrate |
•Grow up to 6 marijuana plants | •Permits local ballot measures pertaining to zoning and land use for marijuana establishments | •15% excise sales | •K-12 education |
Maine Question 1 (2016) | • 2.5 ounces of marijuana and/or marijuana concentrate | • Grow up to 6 marijuana plants | • Municipalities allowed to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries | • 10% excise sales tax •The legislature added a $20.94/ounce cultivation tax on flowers and mature plants; $5.88/ounce cultivation tax on marijuana trim; $1.50 tax per immature plant; $0.30 tax per immature plant |
•General Fund (legislature added public health programs and law enforcement programs) |
Massachusetts Question 4 (2016) | • 10 ounces of marijuana in one's home • 1 ounce of marijuana in public • 0.2 ounces of marijuana concentrate |
• Grow up to 6 marijuana plants | • Municipalities allowed to limit number of establishments and restrict the time, place, and manner of their operation • Permits local ballot measures to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries |
• 3.75% excise sales tax (legislature increased to 10.75%) | • General Fund |
Alaska Measure 2 (2014) | • 1 ounce of marijuana | • Grow up to 6 marijuana plants | • Municipalities allowed to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries | • $50/ounce cultivation tax | • General Fund |
Oregon Measure 91 (2014) | • 8 ounces of marijuana in one's home • 1 ounce of marijuana in public • 1 ounce of marijuana concentrate |
• Grow up to 4 marijuana plants | • Permits local ballot measures to ban or limit marijuana establishments | • 17% excise sales tax (legislature added the excise sales tax) • $35/ounce producer tax for flowers • $10/ounce producer tax for leaves |
• K-12 education • drug prevention and treatment • state police • local law enforcement |
Colorado Amendment 64 (2012) | • 1 ounce of marijuana • 1 ounce of marijuana concentrate |
• Grow up to 6 marijuana plants | • Municipalities allowed to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries | •Required the state legislature to enact taxes •In 2013, the legislature's Proposition AA enacted a 15% excise tax on unprocessed retail marijuana and 10% (increased to 15% in 2017) sales tax on retail sales |
• K-12 public education • Proposition AA added allocations for local governments, healthcare, substance abuse prevention and treatment, and law enforcement |
Washington Initiative 502 (2012) | • 1 ounce of marijuana • 0.25 ounce of marijuana concentrate |
• Illegal | • Municipalities allowed to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries | •25% excise sales tax (legislature increased the tax to 37%) | • research • drug prevention, public health education • healthcare • dropout prevention, intervention • General Fund |
Political context of recreational marijuana ballot measures
The following table summarizes the political context surrounding recreational marijuana ballot measures, including whether the state's presidential voting history in the preceding three elections was Democratic, mixed, or Republican.
- Among states with Democratic presidential voting histories, eight marijuana legalization ballot measures were approved and one was defeated.
- Among states with Republican presidential voting histories, four marijuana legalization ballot measures were approved and six were defeated.
- Among states with mixed presidential voting histories, three marijuana legalization ballot measures were approved and one was defeated.
Partisan control of the 15 states approving marijuana legalization measures was Democratic in four states, divided in five states, and Republican in six states. Partisan control of the eight states rejecting marijuana legalization measures was Democratic in one state, mixed in one state, and Republican in six states.
Click "Show" to expand the table.
Political context surrounding recreational marijuana ballot measures since 2010 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Measure | Year | Status | Presidential voting history[16] | State partisan control at time of vote |
California | Proposition 19 | 2010 | Democratic (Gore-Kerry-Obama) | Democratic | |
Colorado | Amendment 64 | 2012 | Mixed (Bush-Obama-Obama) | Divided | |
Washington | Initiative 502 | 2012 | Democratic (Kerry-Obama-Obama) | Democratic | |
Alaska | Measure 2 | 2014 | Republican (Bush-McCain-Romney) | Republican | |
Oregon | Measure 91 | 2014 | Democratic (Kerry-Obama-Obama) | Democratic | |
Ohio | Issue 3 | 2015 | Mixed (Bush-Obama-Obama) | Republican | |
Arizona | Proposition 205 | 2016 | Republican (McCain-Romney-Trump) | Republican | |
California | Proposition 64 | 2016 | Democratic (Obama-Obama-Clinton) | Democratic | |
Maine | Question 1 | 2016 | Democratic (Obama-Obama-Clinton) | Divided | |
Massachusetts | Question 4 | 2016 | Democratic (Obama-Obama-Clinton) | Divided | |
Nevada | Question 2 | 2016 | Democratic (Obama-Obama-Clinton) | Republican | |
North Dakota | Measure 3 | 2018 | Republican (McCain-Romney-Trump) | Republican | |
Michigan | Proposal 1 | 2018 | Mixed (Obama-Obama-Trump) | Republican | |
Arizona | Proposition 207 | 2020 | Mixed (Romney-Trump-Biden) | Republican | |
Montana | Initiative 190 | 2020 | Republican (Romney-Trump-Trump) | Divided | |
New Jersey | Amendment | 2020 | Democratic (Obama-Clinton-Biden) | Democratic | |
South Dakota | Amendment A | 2020 | Republican (Romney-Trump-Trump) | Republican | |
Arkansas | Issue 4 | 2022 | Republican (Romney-Trump-Trump) | Republican | |
Maryland | Question 4 | 2022 | Democratic (Obama-Clinton-Biden) | Divided | |
Missouri | Amendment 3 | 2022 | Republican (Romney-Trump-Trump) | Republican | |
North Dakota | Measure 2 | 2022 | Republican (Romney-Trump-Trump) | Republican | |
South Dakota | Measure 27 | 2022 | Republican (Romney-Trump-Trump) | Republican | |
Oklahoma | State Question 820 | 2023 | Republican (Romney-Trump-Trump) | Republican | |
Ohio | Issue 2 | 2023 | Mixed (Obama-Trump-Trump) | Republican |
Path to the ballot
The state process
In Missouri, the number of signatures required to qualify an initiated constitutional amendment for the ballot is equal to 8 percent of the votes cast for governor in the previous gubernatorial election in six of the eight state congressional districts. Signatures must be filed with the secretary of state six months prior to the election.
The requirements to get an initiated constitutional amendment certified for the 2022 ballot:
- Signatures: The smallest possible requirement was 171,592 valid signatures. The actual requirement depends on the congressional districts in which signatures were collected.
- Deadline: The deadline to submit signatures was May 8, 2022.
Once the signatures have been filed with the secretary of state, the secretary copies the petition sheets and transmits them to county election authorities for verification. The secretary of state may choose whether the signatures are to be verified by a 5 percent random sample or full verification. If the random sampling projects between 90 percent and 110 percent of required signatures, a full check of all signatures is required. If more than 110 percent, the initiative is certified, and, if less than 90 percent, the initiative fails.
Details about this initiative
- On August 27, 2021, Marc Ellinger filed the initiative.[2]
- On October 6, 2021, the secretary of state cleared the initiative for signature gathering.[2]
- On April 19, 2022, Legal Missouri 2022 announced that it had collected 200,000 signatures for this initiative.[17]
- On May 8, 2022, Legal Missouri 2022 announced that it had submitted 385,000 signatures.[18]
- On August 9, 2022, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced that the initiative received enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. Of submitted signatures, 214,535 were deemed valid.[19]
Sponsors of the measure hired Fieldworks LLC to collect signatures for the petition to qualify this measure for the ballot. A total of $3,659,401.28 was spent to collect the 171,592 valid signatures required to put this measure before voters, resulting in a total cost per required signature (CPRS) of $21.33.
Lawsuit
This article contains a developing news story. Ballotpedia staff are checking for updates regularly. To inform us of new developments, email us at [email protected].
Lawsuit overview | |
Issue: Does the petition violate the single subject rule, and did it receive a sufficient amount of valid signatures to qualify for the ballot? | |
Court: Circuit Court of Cole County, Missouri | |
Ruling: The challenge was dismissed due to the insufficient evidence that the plaintiff resides in Missouri, and dismissed any wrongdoing in the validity of signatures or the subject of the measure. | |
Plaintiff(s): Joy Sweeney | Defendant(s): Secretary of State John Ashcroft |
Source: Petition for Injunctive Relief
On August 19, 2022, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of Joy Sweeney, a Jefferson City resident who serves on the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, against Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. The lawsuit alleged that the petition violated the single-subject rule and that "there are not a sufficient number of valid signatures in two-thirds of the congressional districts in the State of Missouri", and that records of these signatures had not been made available. On September 9, 2022, the lawsuit was dismissed by Cole County Circuit Judge Cotton Walker on procedural grounds due to the residence of the plaintiff, Joy Sweeney, and the lack of evidence that she lived in Missouri. Judge Walker also dismissed the arguments of the lawsuit. “This Court would have therefore dismissed the Petition and assessed costs against Plaintiff if it had ruled on the merits in this case," the judgment read.[20]
How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Missouri
Click "Show" to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Missouri.
How to cast a vote in Missouri | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll timesIn Missouri, all polling places are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[21] Registration
To vote in Missouri, one must be 18 years old, a United States citizen, and Missouri resident.[22] An applicant may print an application, pick one up from a county clerk's office, or request that an application be mailed. The completed application must be returned by mail. All returned applications must be postmarked at least 27 days prior to Election Day in order to be processed. An applicant may also register to vote online.[22] Automatic registrationMissouri does not practice automatic voter registration.[12] Online registration
Missouri has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.[12] Same-day registrationMissouri does not allow same-day voter registration.[12] Residency requirementsTo register to vote in Missouri, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify the length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible. Voters may file change-of-address forms after the registration deadline, up to and including Election Day, provided that they can present photo identification upon doing so.[23][24] Verification of citizenshipMissouri does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.[22] All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[25] As of November 2024, five states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registrationThe Missouri Secretary of State's office allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirementsMissouri requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[26][27] The following were accepted forms of identification as of April 2023. Click here for the Missouri Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information. Voters can present the following forms of information:
If a voter does not have an ID, he or she can obtain one for free by filling out this form. |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Missouri Secretary of State, "Full text," accessed October 6, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Missouri Secretary of State, "List of petitions," accessed August 31, 2021
- ↑ Smart Approaches to Marijuana, "MJ Laws Map," accessed June 15, 2022
- ↑ Marijuana Policy Project, "Map of state marijuana laws," accessed June 15, 2022
- ↑ This number does not include South Dakota, where voters approved a marijuana legalization initiative in 2020 that was later struck down by the state's supreme court
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Missouri Ethics Commission, "Legal Missouri 2022," accessed May 3, 2022
- ↑ Missouri Ethics Commission, "Save Our State," accessed December 9, 2022
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Legal Missouri 2022, "Homepage," accessed Oct 17, 2022
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Missouri Ethics Commission, "Save Our State PAC," accessed Oct 18, 2022
- ↑ Missouri Secretary of State, "Petition 2018-051," accessed November 28, 2016
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 27, 2024
- ↑ Smart Approaches to Marijuana, "MJ Laws Map," accessed June 15, 2022
- ↑ Marijuana Policy Project, "Map of state marijuana laws," accessed June 15, 2022
- ↑ This number does not include South Dakota, where voters approved a marijuana legalization initiative in 2020 that was later struck down by the state's supreme court
- ↑ Prior three elections before and/or including the election at which measure was voted on
- ↑ US News, "Recreational Marijuana Petition Passes Signature Requirement," accessed April 20, 2022
- ↑ Missouri Independent, "Legal marijuana, ranked-choice voting initiatives submitted for Missouri ballot," accessed May 9, 2022
- ↑ The Hill, "Missouri puts marijuana legalization on November ballot," accessed August 9, 2022
- ↑ River Front Times, "Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Ballot Measure To Legalize Marijuana," accessed September 12, 2022
- ↑ Missouri Secretary of State - Elections and Voting, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Missouri Secretary of State, "Register to Vote," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ BillTrack50, "MO HB1878," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ Missouri Secretary of State, "FAQs Voter Registration," accessed August 27, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Missouri Secretary of State, "How To Vote," accessed August 27, 2024
- ↑ Missouri Secretary of State, "Do I need an ID to vote?" accessed April 3, 2023
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