Petition filed in favor of legalizing cannabis in Missouri

A Missouri group advocating for legal recreational marijuana use filed a petition Wednesday to amend the state's constitution to legalize, tax and regulate cannabis.

Secretary of State Jason Kander announced Thursday his office received an initiative petition from Show-Me Cannabis amending Article I of the Missouri Constitution and the petition is open for public comment.

The public comment period will be open for 30 days and allows Missourians to submit their thoughts on the proposal online, by mail or phone.

Before circulating petitions for signatures, state law requires groups must first have the form of their petition approved by the secretary of state's office, said a news release from Kander's office. The office then has 23 days after the form of the petition is approved to draft ballot summary language. During this time, the office reviews all comments.

The initiative petition needs 165,000 signatures to qualify for the November 2016 ballot.

If approved by voters, the amendment would legalize and regulate cannabis for people older than 21. It also would legalize the distribution of medical cannabis with a physician's recommendation.

Show-Me Cannabis contends such a move could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenue.

The petition can be viewed at sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/Elections/Petitions/2016-001.pdf and public comments may be submitted at sos.mo.gov/comment.