Seven statewide Ballot Measures will be considered when voters go to the polls November 6th. Three of those have to do with Medical Marijuana. In an effort to help you understand the ballot measures, KCHI brings you both the official ballot language and the Fair Ballot Language, which is meant to provide a better explanation of the issue.
Amendment 3 is an amendment to the constitution for use of marijuana for medical purposes.
Official Ballot Title:
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
- allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes, and create regulations and licensing procedures for marijuana and marijuana facilities;
- impose a 15 percent tax on the retail sale of marijuana, and a tax on the wholesale sale of marijuana flowers and leaves per dry-weight ounce to licensed facilities; and
- use funds from these taxes to establish and fund a state research institute to conduct research with the purpose of developing cures and treatments for cancer and other incurable diseases or medical conditions?
- This proposal is estimated to generate annual taxes and fees of $66 million. State governmental entities estimate initial implementation costs of $186,000 and increased annual operating costs of $500,000.
Fair Ballot Language:
A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes under state laws. This amendment does not change federal law, which makes marijuana possession, sale and cultivation a federal offense. This amendment makes Brad Bradshaw (the contact person on this initiative petition) the research chairperson of a newly created research institute that is funded by fees and taxes on medical marijuana. Brad Bradshaw will select the members of the board that will govern the research institute, which will issue regulations and licensing procedures for medical marijuana and medical marijuana facilities — dispensary, cultivation, and marijuana-infused product manufacturing facilities. This amendment creates licensing fees for such facilities. The amendment imposes a 15 percent tax on the retail sale of marijuana for medical purposes by dispensary facilities and a tax on the wholesale sale of marijuana flowers and leaves by cultivation facilities. The funds generated by the license fees and taxes will be used by the research institute for licensing and regulating marijuana and marijuana facilities, land acquisition and development, and conducting research with the purpose of developing cures and treatments for cancer and other incurable diseases.
A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution as to the use of marijuana.
If passed, this measure will impose an 15 percent retail sales tax on marijuana for medical uses and a wholesale sales tax on marijuana sold by medical marijuana cultivation facilities.
