Urge Missouri Legislators to support House bill 1659 to legalize marijuana
- Target:
- Missouri State Legislature
- Region:
- United States of America
I'm writing to urge your support for House Bill 1659, which would regulate the adult consumption of marijuana in Missouri.
Never in modern history has there existed greater public support for ending the prohibition on marijuana and replacing it with regulation. The historic votes on Election Day 2012 in Colorado and Washington - where, for the first time ever, a majority of voters decided at the ballot box to abolish cannabis prohibition - underscore this political reality.
Missouri arrests over 18,400 individuals annually for minor marijuana possession violations at the cost of over 49 million dollars per year. Only 12 states in the nation arrest more marijuana possession offenders per year. This ongoing prohibition financially burdens taxpayers, encroaches upon civil liberties, engenders disrespect for the law, impedes legitimate scientific research into the plant’s medicinal properties, and disproportionately impacts communities of color.
It is time to stop ceding control of the marijuana market to untaxed criminal enterprises and it is time for lawmakers to pass laws permitting personal use of cannabis by adults and licensing its production. A pragmatic regulatory framework that allows for limited, licensed production and sale of cannabis to adults - but restricts use among young people - best reduces the risks associated with its use or abuse, as well as satisfying federal concerns about states’ taxation and regulation of cannabis.
I encourage you to support a new approach towards our ineffective and expensive cannabis policies. Please vote YES on House Bill 1659.
Please contact your Missouri State Representative and encourage them to endorse House bill 1659 introduced by Representative Chris Kelly of Columbia Missouri.
The legalization of Marijuana, taxation and regulation is long over due. It will not only create jobs and generate taxes but it should bring an end to the illegal importing of marijuana from Mexico and the murders that are a result of Cartels battling over control. This will not end their hold on cocaine but it is probably the most we can hope for in our life times.
Please take action and call your Missouri State Representative. It is never to late to begin to get State Senators and the Governor on board as well. Stand up for your rights.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Urge Missouri Legislators to support House bill 1659 to legalize marijuana petition to Missouri State Legislature was written by Steven Addison and is in the category Law Reform at GoPetition.