The fate of legalized recreational marijuana in Missouri moved close to victory late Tuesday.
As of midnight Tuesday, Missouri Amendment 3 was poised for victory with 53.3% of voters in favor of Amendment 3 with 87% of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press.
The measure would legalize recreational marijuana four years after Missouri voters approved medical marijuana sales. People over 21 can purchase cannabis legally with a 6% state tax in effect.
The mood was nervy early in the evening at a pro-Amendment 3 watch party at the Grand Cru Restaurant in Columbia, as early vote counts signaled defeat. Votes for passing the amendment steadily increased through the night.
John Payne, campaign director for the pro-cannabis committee Legal Missouri 2022, said he expected the lead to stretch in favor of approval through the night based on liberal leaning of precincts that had yet to report as of 10:30 p.m. He said a victory would amount to a “seismic change” in crime policy within the state.
“This is the most important criminal justice reform that has ever been passed by the voters of the state of Missouri,” he said. “It’s a new world for the state.”
State analysts estimate legalization will initially generate $7.9 million in revenues and rise to at least $40.8 million annually. That figure implies the market could make…
