Show-Me Cannabis includes some of the smartest, hard-working marijuana law reform advocates in the country, and I am not just saying that because I once served on their board and consider many members dear friends. This is the group, after all, that was instrumental in freeing Jeff Mizanskey from his life sentence for marijuana. Show-Me Cannabis is working tirelessly to pass a medical cannabis initiative in 2016 and has launched its first ad supporting the effort. The ad powerfully illustrates the need to end the criminal prosecution and persecution of sick and disabled patients, along with the loves ones who care for them.
Show-Me Cannabis Chair Dan Viets was my first activist mentor as the President of Missouri NORML, helping show me first-hand not only the dedication that an activist needs to be successful, but also the need to be politically wise in one’s choices. Deputy Director Amber Langston and I go way back to our University of Missouri NORML and SSDP days as once-young advocates that have now have more than 15 years of experience in political activist trenches. Director John Payne is an astute political observer who is easily one of the hardest-working advocates in the country. This groups leads a talented SMC team that has a great opportunity to help Missourians and the entire nation by legalizing medical cannabis in America’s Heartland.
Regardless of where you live, please consider donating to this important effort. Polling demonstrates that medical cannabis is supported by a supermajority of Missourians, but qualifying a measure for a statewide ballot is very expensive, so please chip in if you can.
Not only is protecting medical cannabis patients a morally correct choice, but legalizing medical marijuana will greatly add to national efforts to reform our marijuana laws. Reaching into more politically conservative states is necessary for accomplishing our ultimate goal of ending cannabis prohibition federally. Each and every state that legalizes medical marijuana adds new elected officials to our fight to recognize the need for states to implement their own cannabis laws without interference from the federal government. Additionally, medical cannabis passing in Missouri helps our nation make inroads into other conservative states such as Missouri’s southern neighbor Arkansas.
