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Lawmakers, don’t let Missouri’s medical marijuana bill go up in smoke

Medical marijuana legislation currently working its way through Jefferson City is an important first step.
Medical marijuana legislation currently working its way through Jefferson City is an important first step. File photo

The House has passed legislation allowing the use of medical marijuana for terminal illnesses or a “debilitating medical condition.”

Some critics have called the measure too restrictive and difficult to implement. We don’t think so. This statutory approach could avoid the legal tangles that might engulf broader marijuana initiatives that voters could consider later this year.

This important therapy should be available to Missourians who need it, regardless of the legal mechanism for allowing it. Passing this bill is a first step.

More work to be done

The Missouri General Assembly has a number of other issues on its last-week to-do list. Lawmakers understand the stakes, and should be able to move quickly to address these lingering concerns:

Gas tax

Tax cuts

Gift ban

Child marriage

Sports gambling

Sunshine Law

This story was originally published May 14, 2018 at 6:52 PM with the headline "Lawmakers, don’t let Missouri’s medical marijuana bill go up in smoke."

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