Adults may legally possess cannabis on August 1, 2023. State officials at that time will begin the process of reviewing and expunging tens of thousands of marijuana convictions.
“Our sense of justice and our principles of fairness demand that public officials and the courts move swiftly to right the past wrongs of cannabis prohibition and criminalization.”
Eighty-three percent of participants said that cannabis is “less harmful to a person’s health compared to alcohol” and 67 percent said that it is a “highly important treatment for older adults.”
“This bill will facilitate trusted university partners to engage in the kinds of research that will best equip state and federal lawmakers and regulators to develop effective cannabis policies based on public health and safety, will allow consumers to make more informed choices, and will help train the next generation of cannabis researchers.”
“It is clear that many counties have made no serious effort to comply with the requirements of the Missouri Constitution,” Missouri NORML Coordinator Dan Viets said. “It should not be necessary to seek a court order in order to force our courts to comply with the Missouri Constitution, but if that is what is required, we may pursue that option.”
Justices reversed a lower court decision and concluded that certain “sale-related marijuana offenses are eligible for expungement” under the state’s 2020 voter-initiated legalization law.
Proponents say that the law’s intent is to limit the number of in-person cash transactions taking place at licensed retailers.
Marijuana reform legislation continues to advance in several states. This week’s update highlights legislative developments in CA, LA, MD, ME, MN, NC, & TX.