Members of a key House committee on Tuesday backed a plan to fully legalize marijuana, propelling the measure to the full Missouri House for debate. The House Rules Committee voted 6-4 to keep alive the so-called Cannabis Freedom Act, which would require the state to issue twice as many marijuana business licenses as were issued under the medical program. The action Tuesday sets up a possible debate before the full House in the near future. Four weeks remain before the Legislature’s annual session ends. If the plan clears the House, the Senate would need to act before May 13 to send the legislation to Gov. Mike Parson. Rep. Phil Christofanelli, a St. Peters Republican who chairs the House Rules Committee, said Tuesday he had “grave concerns” about the Cannabis Freedom Act as drafted. “I think there needs to be additional testing of the cannabis in the marketplace,” Christofanelli said. “I think there need to be reasonable limits placed on possession and grow facilities.” Rep. Ron Hicks, R-Defiance, who is sponsoring the plan, said he understood Christofanelli’s concerns, “, especially with the testing side of that.” “We do need to add that to this legislation,” Hicks said.
Jack Suntrup, stltoday.com | the #1 St. Louis website, 04/20/2022 00:04:00