Cannabis advocates in Missouri who want the state to become the next to legalize cannabis for adult use have reached a new milestone in their ballot drive with two weeks to spare. Legal Missouri 2022, a group petitioning to put recreational cannabis on the ballot, announced that it collected more than 200,000 voter signatures to date as outreach efforts escalate ahead of the May 8 signature submission deadline. John Payne, Legal Missouri’s campaign manager, said that the efforts are going well and are getting around 9,000 new signatures per day with the aim to collect even more before the deadline. The ballot initiative has raised $1,433,927.10 in total since its launch in 2021 with the vast majority of funds coming from Missouri cannabis companies. New Approach Advocacy Fund is the largest contributor so far, donating $300,000 in total, with BD Ventures, which owns Flora Farms, New Growth Horizon, and the Proper brand, all donating $215,000 each in total coming in second. “I think this will help the industry grow and give great opportunities in Missouri in many ways,” Payne said. “1 out of 10 new jobs since 2020 were in the medical [cannabis] industry.

420 Intel – Marijuana Industry News, 04/25/2022 20:00:00

Open article: https://420intel.com/articles/2022/04/26/ballot-measure-recreational-cannabis-missouri-claims-200000-signatures

Officials with the city of Cleveland have filed motions to expunge cannabis convictions of more than 4,000 people. The convictions are for possession of 20 grams or less, dating back to 2017. If considered a minor misdemeanor, cannabis possession won’t create a criminal record. Located in Ohio, cannabis in Cleaveland remains illegal. However, like elsewhere in the US, the laws are blurring and turning grey. In 2020, Cleveland City Council effectively decriminalized cannabis, paving the way to expunging cannabis convictions. While federal and state laws still apply, in the city of Cleveland there is no local penalty for possession of cannabis under 200 grams. The local legislation ensured that low-level cannabis convictions wouldn’t carry a criminal record. Nor do the convicted need to disclose this charge on applications for jobs or licenses. Ohio’s Road to Legalization Cleveland isn’t the only city in Ohio to decriminalize small amounts of cannabis. Everywhere from major metropolises like Columbus and Cincinnati to towns of 500 people like Trimble or Adena. If you’re caught with less than 200 grams, there is no misdemeanor charge. And now Cleveland residents will have the opportunity to expunge their cannabis records.

Caleb Mcmillan, Cannabis News, Lifestyle – Headlines, Videos & Cooking, 04/25/2022 13:01:00

Open article: https://cannabislifenetwork.com/cleveland-to-expunge-cannabis-convictions/