Recreational marijuana legalization will be on November ballot in Missouri | Springfield News-Leader - Greta Cross & Galen Bacharier:
August 12, 2022 - "Missourians can expect to see marijuana back on the ballot in November, this time as a constitutional amendment that would legalize recreational use and clear cannabis-related convictions. Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced Tuesday morning that ... a minimum number of valid signatures were obtained from six of the eight congressional districts, putting it on the Nov. 8 ballot.
"The ballot measure proposes an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that would:
- Remove state prohibitions on purchasing, possessing, consuming, using, delivering, manufacturing and selling marijuana for personal use for adults over 21;
- Require a registration card for personal cultivation with prescribed limits;
- Allow persons with certain marijuana-related non-violent offenses to petition for release from incarceration or parole and probation and have records cleared;
- Establish a lottery selection process to award licenses and certificates;
- Issue equally distributed licenses to each congressional district;
- Impose a 6% tax on the retail price of marijuana to benefit various programs.
"Legal Missouri 2022, the campaign backing the ballot measure, says they earned more than 214,000 verified signatures across all eight congressional districts, outpacing the 184,720 minimum needed to make the ballot."
Arkansas marijuana legalization initiative to appear on November ballot; votes may not be counted pending state supreme court ruling | Ballotpedia - Jackie Mitchell:
August 12, 2022 - "On Aug. 11, the Arkansas Supreme Court ordered the Secretary of State to certify a marijuana legalization initiative for the election on Nov. 8. Votes on the initiative may not be counted pending a court ruling on the initiative’s ballot language. Responsible Growth Arkansas, the campaign behind the marijuana legalization initiative, submitted more than 190,000 signatures on July 8. The Arkansas secretary of state announced on July 29 that the campaign had submitted more than the required number of valid signatures (89,151) and would qualify for the ballot if the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners certified the ballot language.
"On Aug. 3, 2022, the election commissioners declined to certify the ballot title and popular names for the initiative, stating that the language was misleading. The next day, Responsible Growth Arkansas filed a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court [and] requested an expedited review because the deadline for the secretary of state to certify measures for the 2022 ballot is August 25. On August 11, the state Supreme Court ordered the secretary of state to certify the measure for the ballot. Votes on the initiative may not be counted, however, if the supreme court rules that the ballot language is misleading....
"The measure would legalize marijuana use for individuals 21 years of age and older and authorize the commercial sale of marijuana with a 10% sales tax. Adults could possess up to one ounce of marijuana. Under the amendment, businesses that already hold licenses under the state’s medical marijuana program would be authorized to sell marijuana for personal use. An additional 40 licenses would be given to businesses chosen by a lottery. The Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Division of the Department of Finance and Administration would regulate the program and provide for cannabis business licensing.
"Marijuana legalization measures are certified to appear on the 2022 ballot in Maryland, Missouri, and South Dakota. Marijuana legalization measures could also appear on the ballot in Oklahoma and North Dakota. Currently, 19 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes. Eleven states and D.C. had legalized marijuana through the ballot initiative process."
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