Missouri residents will soon be able to legally use marijuana recreationally in the state.
Voters approved Amendment 3, known as Legal Missouri 2022. The amendment earned 53% in support. The decision on Amendment 3 comes four years after Missouri legalized the use of medical marijuana with 65% of the vote.
John Payne, campaign manager for Legal Missouri 2022, spoke on Tuesday during a celebratory watch party in Ballpark Village in St. Louis.
“So many times during this campaign. The whole thing hung in the balance. And we didn’t know if we’re gonna make it. But it was because of the people in this room and those celebrating across the state that we made it through,” Payne said.
Legal Missouri 2022 spent millions on the campaign to pass the amendment and had the support of Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and the St. Louis NAACP.
But it also had vocal opposition, including Gov. Mike Parson, the Missouri NAACP and St. Louis Mayor Tishuara Jones.
Tanisha Patterson, who attended the watch party, said she believes the passage of recreational marijuana is something the state has needed for a long time.
“This means increased revenue, it means access to all patients, it means funding programs that need the funding. It means new growth, it means opportunity, it means innovation into an industry that’s endless,” Patterson said.
Under the amendment, nonmedical users will be able to possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana, while medical patients…
