One Year Later: Reflecting on the passage of Amendment 2

“I don’t even know what to say, it still shocks me sometimes that all of this has happened and so quickly its rolled out.  I think my thoughts and feelings are still catching up.” 

Chris Chesley is a big part of why Missourians are currently growing medical marijuana and why thousands more will be purchasing from dispensaries beginning next year.

Chesley is the Deputy Director at Greater St. Louis NORML and was an active participant in campaigns up to and through the 2018 push for Amendment 2 leading to Missouri legalizing the use of medical marijuana.

One year ago, Missourians flocked to the polls and overwhelmingly chose to make Missouri the newest state to legalize medical marijuana.

Voters were tasked to choose between three different proposals, each touted as the key to legal medical marijuana.

Each of the measures would legalize possession, usage, purchase, and sales of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Each program had its own unique structure and would allow the state to license and regulate dispensaries.

But each choice carried its own wildly different state program and tax structure :

• Amendment 2 would impose a 4 percent tax on marijuana sales, and the funds would be used mainly to pay for services for military veterans.
• Amendment 3, a.k.a. “The Brad Bradshaw Amendment,” would impose a 15 percent tax on marijuana sales, held no endorsements, and essentially created a new and entirely separate branch of government with Bradshaw at the helm. The measure would have given a governing board selected by Bradshaw bonding authority to build a new campus that would be anywhere from one square mile in size to 36 square miles in size.
• Proposition C would have imposed a 2 percent tax on marijuana sales, and the revenue would be set for veterans’ services, drug treatment, early childhood education, and public safety, but the proposition was a statutory proposal, not constitutional, and would have been open to legislative change.

Additionally, and most notably at this stage – Amendment 2 allows Missouri medical marijuana patients the ability to grow at home, the other two measures did not. With dispensaries projected to be a minimum of 2-3 more months away, and a realistic estimate says 6-8 months or more away, home cultivation and the caregiver system has become vitally important to many Missourians. 

“The right for patients to have access to medicine that is a natural alternative means the world to me,” says Katie Thomas. “The ability to grow your own medicine or go out and get your medicine without fear and penalties eases the mind and spirit of people.” Thomas herself has lived in a limbo of sorts for the past few years. Thomas co-founded Blue Key CBD in 2017, is a member of Missouri Hemp Trade Association, and has been a vocal supporter and educator for cannabis and its medicinal properties.

Because of people like Chesley and Thomas, the stigma associated with cannabis erodes daily. Federally hemp has been legalized, CBD has become a buzzword, and for the first time in history, pro-cannabis legislation has been passed out of the House and sent to the Senate at the federal level.

On a state level, Missouri’s legislature went beyond the restrictive pilot program and created the groundwork for a prosperous and fruitful hemp industry. Over 2,100 applications were filed for medical marijuana-related businesses, and nearly 20,000 Missourians have already applied for their medical marijuana license.

“The small community of activists that I belong to and have for a long time, called our ‘canna community,’ quadrupled overnight. I’ve met so many new people in the last year that it makes my head spin,” says Karin Chester. It’s that “canna community” that in many ways drives Chester. She has spoken numerous times – both in public and private settings, about her relationship with and affection for Ayden Markham and his family.

“When I met them, everything changed for me,” she previously told Greenway. “I kept thinking that if everyone could see this kid, they would realize why this is so important.” That importance and the impact Ayden and his family have had on the community extends far beyond patients and advocates, tradesmen, investors, and executives have all opened their hearts and are more often making decisions that benefit the community.

“Physician groups have stepped up to offer low-cost certifications so that patients are not being taken advantage of.” Chester said. “The patient count grows every day.”

Chester is the Executive Director of Greater St. Louis NORML, the Vice President of MoCannTrade, and the CEO of Midwest Canna Expos. To say she is active in the cannabis community is well beyond an understatement. She is as passionate about the cannabis plant as anyone you will encounter, she glows when she talks about the way that medical marijuana can be used to help patients. 

Chester recognizes another entity at the heart of the change from November 2018 to November 2019. “There have been many successes in the last year in regard to implementing Article 14. DHSS has been amazing and incredibly receptive to input and feedback from the community.” 

Thomas echoes the sentiment. “DHSS has been on track and has done a good job of educating the public and letting the public have a voice.”

Chester says when licensed facilities open next year, there will be opportunities for those who have risked everything and put their lives on hold. “When we voted just a year ago, I thought I had some idea of what this would all look like when it was real. I laugh now about the naivety of that because this is an industry that moves at light speed and a snail’s pace at the same time. You can only succeed if you become a fantastic juggler and an expert at pivoting. I am grateful to be part of it all.”

Thomas is anxiously awaiting licensing as well, “It will be an economic push for Missouri. More jobs, more opportunities, and more growth for our state.” But Thomas sees one critical place where Missouri and many cannabis businesses aren’t meeting their full potential. “I believe we still struggle in the education of the plant itself.” Thomas continued, “Education is key for understanding so that will be the next big push.”

Jessica Kelly, Communications Director and Board Member for NORML KC agrees with Thomas. Education is the next big push.

“We also need to continue our advocacy efforts by working with the local hospital system providers to persuade them to participate in the program and to not dismiss patients if they choose to utilize medical cannabis,” Kelly said. “These issues impact the ability of qualifying patients to participate successfully in the program and they need to be addressed promptly.”

While Kelly is proud of the accomplishments of Missouri’s activists and advocates, she is quick to point out that there is more work to be done on behalf of patients and families.

“On the anniversary of New Approach Missouri’s language passing, I know that we have a lot to celebrate and be proud of. We also need to recognize that our activism work did not end with the vote. We need to unify in support of Missouri’s medical cannabis community by passing statewide parental, employee, and tenant protections for patients.”