You will see me talk a lot about the Show-Me Cannabis campaign between now and Election Day 2016. As I’ve stated many times, the Show Me-Cannabis campaign team is the strongest I’ve ever seen – even stronger than the campaigns in states that have already legalized. Admittedly, Missouri is going to be a harder state to get a victory in compared to other states that have legalized, but I’m confident that it will happen in 2016 because of the hard work and wisdom of the Show-Me Cannabis team.
Recently the St. Louis Post Dispatch endorsed the 2016 campaign’s efforts, which is a big deal. There will no doubt be many, many more endorsements between now and Election Day 2016. Per the St. Louis Post Dispatch’s Editorial Board:
Conservative Republicans led the charge in Missouri last year to pass the bill that legalized hemp-oil extract, and the law put into place the potential structure for state government to properly manage the growth and distribution of hemp byproducts.
Legalizing marijuana is not some panacea. It comes with all sorts of other problems, such as potential for increased abuse, conflict with federal law and border states that have different laws, and many of the same issues that are dealt with regularly with abuse of alcohol.
But the nation is quickly changing its views on legalized marijuana, and Missouri should thrust itself to the forefront of the debate, primarily because of its location in the center of the country and its reliance on agriculture and life sciences as major economic drivers.
A victory in Missouri would be a more significant victory than other states out West that have already legalized, or will likely legalize in 2016 such as California. That’s not to take away those Western victories and current efforts for 2016 out West. However, a victory in those states is far less surprising than a victory would be in Missouri. If/when California legalizes marijuana, people will say ‘it is about time.’ A victory in Missouri would show that marijuana legalization isn’t just for states in the Western part of the country (or D.C. to be fair!). People would say ‘if Missouri can do it, any state can do it.’ Go get ’em Show-Me Cannabis. I’ll be here to help in anyway that I can.
