| The Tenth Amendment Center reports some new developments in the Missouri Legislature which would give belated help to patients who treated their conditions with cannabis medicines prior to 2019. Veterans with PTSD and their loved ones are hopeful that the legislature will move promptly to clear those who were convicted of possession of less than 35 grams(roughly an ounce) of marijuana. Veterans suffering long term effects from their multiple deployments have often turned to cannabis meds as a far more effective treatment for flashbacks, night terrors and other anxieties associated with the stress of wartime service. But several other groups of patients are also benefiting from the new meds. Missouri voters passed a constitutional amendment to assure patients' rights to seek treatment with cannabis medicines.
|  In Oklahoma, many are currently incarcerated for treating their illnesses with medicines which have since become legal. |
Rep. Barbara Washington (D-Kansas City) filed House Bill 292 (HB292) on Dec. 18. Under the proposed law, any person convicted in Missouri of possession of 35 grams of marijuana or less after Dec. 31, 1997, and before Aug 29, 2018, would automatically have their convictions expunged from official records.
Beginning August 28, 2019, any person convicted of possession of 35 grams or less of marijuana would have all official records of the conviction expunged by the court on the day of conviction. In effect, people would still face criminal penalties marijuana possession, but would not have it on their record.
Rep. Ron Hicks (R-Dardenne Prairie) introduced a similar bill (HB341). His legislation would allow patients with medical marijuana cards to have convictions for certain marijuana-related offenses and violations committed prior to the legalization of medical marijuana in Missouri expunged,
In 2017, Missouri loosened penalties for possession of marijuana. Possession of 10 grams of cannabis or less was lowered from a class A to a class D misdemeanor with no jail time. Possession of between 10 and 35 grams was lowered from a felony to a class A misdemeanor. Then in Nov. 2018, voters approved a state constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Beginning August 28, 2019, any person convicted of possession of 35 grams or less of marijuana would have all official records of the conviction expunged by the court on the day of conviction. In effect, people would still face criminal penalties marijuana possession, but would not have it on their record.
Rep. Ron Hicks (R-Dardenne Prairie) introduced a similar bill (HB341). His legislation would allow patients with medical marijuana cards to have convictions for certain marijuana-related offenses and violations committed prior to the legalization of medical marijuana in Missouri expunged,
In 2017, Missouri loosened penalties for possession of marijuana. Possession of 10 grams of cannabis or less was lowered from a class A to a class D misdemeanor with no jail time. Possession of between 10 and 35 grams was lowered from a felony to a class A misdemeanor. Then in Nov. 2018, voters approved a state constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes.
