Quietly in the month of January, all Missouri NORML chapters voted to support Initiative Petition (IP) 2020-128. To date, the best argument for doing so has been; “IP 2020-128 has the best chance of passing” and “IP 2020-128 is well funded.” I find the move rather dis-heartening due to the fact that the current scoring system for medical marijuana under Article XIV is flawed and has left dozens of small communities without access to the medical marijuana industry in Missouri. The high prices we are destined to see will limit patient access to medicine.
Gross.
IP 2020-128 contains provisions that allow, once again, for limits to the number of adult-use marijuana commercial facilities in the same way that Article XIV currently does. It includes the same broken scoring requirements as Article XIV and grandfathers current medical license holders into additional adult-use licenses. As a consolation, a select few disabled veterans will be able to start micro-businesses (I’m a disabled veteran and that is laughable). Worst of all, it will certainly keep in place the arbitrarily limited number of licenses by allowing the state to impose such a limit.
This creates a protected market for big operators and will keep prices artificially high at your local dispensary. Is it any wonder that this petition is well funded?
I lobby on behalf of patients and adult consumers that deserve high quality cannabis at prices less than $250/oz. Do you want a protected system like Illinois? No, those prices are ridiculous.
I lobby on behalf of the so-called illicit market. A protected market and subjective scoring system will never allow these folks to participate in a legal market. Do you want 80% of marijuana sales to occur outside the legal market like California and Maryland?
I lobby on behalf of small communities across the state who could benefit hugely from access to a legal market due to the jobs and tax revenue that it would generate.
I’m all for legalization, but this isn’t the right way to go about it. We should be able to enjoy an open market along with <$150 ounces just like Oklahoma, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington.
Are you frustrated that NORML made this move without consulting its membership? Do you think this is the wrong move? Are you going to do something about it?
Write your local NORML chapter and voice your concerns! Activists need to get active! Share this using the link below!
NORML KC:
Kansas City MO 64119
newnormlkc@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/normlkc/?fref=ts
https://www.instagram.com/norml_kc/
https://twitter.com/normlkc
Springfield NORML:
Springfield MO 65804
info@springfield-norml.org
http://www.facebook.com/springfieldnorml
Greater StL NORML:
St Louis MO 63103 314-995-1395
greaterstlnorml@gmail.com
http://greaterstlnorml.org/
http://www.facebook.com/gstlnorml
NOTE: To be fair, this is the only chapter I’m aware of who brought this to its members. Despite membership speaking out against, they remain in support of IP 2020-128.
Mid-Mo NORML:
Columbia 573-819-2669
danviets@gmail.com
http://midmonorml.org/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mid-Mo-NORML/812408365464674
Twitter: @midmonorml
Yes i agree with you buddy. Sad! Hopefully in due time things will change for the better. 😐
Eric,
You are wrong about many things, but mainly
you were wrong to eavesdrop on a conference call you were not invited to attend, lurking for 25 minutes on that call. Shame on you.
Sorry, sir. I absolutely dropped from that call and apologize for interrupting. If you remember, I clearly asked everyone who arrived by mistake to drop from your call. I also asked the organizer to provide a different conference call number. I had no idea who that belonged to at the time and it seemed apparent that the organizer didn’t either. If I were to lurk on a call I wouldn’t invite 12 other people to lurk with me. I work in IT and definitely know that this information is tracked – please check your logs.
Further, that unfortunate accident has nothing to do with this article – which was written last week for publishing this week.
Please remove tbe phone number from Sprinfgield NORML, it was left up when I was taken off admin, and I didnt mind because the calls normally involve persons with legal issues, but this isnt my circus. I want zero to do woth it.
Please confirm that your request was honored. The contact information in this article was acquired from NORML.org when looking up the Springfield, Mo chapter. You may wish to have that information changed as well, if it is in error. I’m including a link for your convenience. https://norml.org/chapters/item/springfield-norml?category_id=726
I’m disappointed to hear Missouri NORML is attempting to go this route. It’s definitely not in patients’ or other consumers’ best interest; and appears to be a bunch of thugs in suits trying to profit off a plant that we all once agreed should be free from control. I moved to MO specifically to support NAM, but it looks like I will continue to procure my medicine elsewhere, as I have always done. Only stupid people pay ridiculous prices. I hope everyone else does the same – put the greeders out of business!