It was on Tuesday that the Missouri House voted to legalize medical marijuana, months ahead of when voters may have had the option to legalize it.
Republican Rep. Jim Neely, who sponsored the bill, said that it was important that the Legislature set the rules for the state’s marijuana industry.
He remarked, “If we don’t take action, voters of this state may very well take the decision out of the hands of the politicians and put it in the hands of the voters.”
The House bill was approved in a 112-44 vote and allows adults 18 and over who have a terminal disease to access smokeless marijuana.Those who have PTSD, Cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and other conditions that are debilitating, could also be eligible.
If the bill becomes a law, the Department of Health and Senior Services would be able to expand this list of conditions of what would qualify for medical marijuana. This is as long as at least ten physicians ask for an addition.
The bill will now head to the Senate where there is less than three weeks for it to be considered by the end of session.
