I think marijuana should be legalized for medical and recreational use, then tax and regulate it seven ways to Sunday.

The benefits to state coffers are well-enumerated in the article. I don't think it any worse than alcohol and the moral objections don't seem any different to legalized gambling. The corollaries to Prohibition are many. It was silly then, and it's silly now.

On another note, I had no idea there was a petition and am somewhat up-to-date on local news and initiatives, then again I don't frequent tokeofthetown.com. Perhaps better "grassroots" organization is needed?

The few studies that have been done on the effects of Marijuana use on the brain show a negative effect upon the Hippocampus and the amygdala, responsible for learning and emotion processing respectively. Those studies were small, and only done on males. Currently, there is also some data showing a negative effect upon motivation. Not enough is really known about this drug, and it is much more potent that in days past. I think we should wait for more data before making a decision on this one.

I would support this. I am sick of our police department having to spend time and tax money going after people smoking a plant they can grow in the yard. Heroine is a problem of our times. This is killing people. Alcohol and prescription pills are a problem of our time. It has been for many years. How much further could we have been if we would have taken all the money spent on a yard weed , and put it toward the education of alcohol and heroine . How many lives would have been saved? I have come in contact with various young people on various drugs and I have to say marijuana , in my opinion, should not be called a gateway drug. Prescription pills and alcohol seem to be the main gateway drugs. I don't care if people want to smoke a plant . I say pass it , tax it , and give our police department a well deserved break .

Never say never, but Missouri will probably be the last of 51(?) states to legalize marajuana.

The reason the ballot initiative failed to get sufficient signatures is simple: people were afraid (especially young people) that if they signed the petition, they'd be labeled as pot smokers and harassed by the police.

Missouri voters said no to the Missouri tobacco taxes again.

Make pot legal and tax the legal sale of it. Legalizing pot would be a win/win situtation for Missouri. Our law enforcement agencies could focus on bigger criminals, we would be paying less to house the marijuana sellers in Missouri prisons and we would be collecting tax on the legal sales of marijuana!

People smoke pot just like they smoke cigarettes, drink liquor and visit the casinos. Legalizing it will put tons of money in Missouri's coffers. For those who believe that smokers will be driving under the influence......they already do....

I Oppose legalizing pot in missouri,Beacause it's dangerous,Illeagal and I Want all Pot Smokers Arrested,Taken Into Custody,Brought To Justice,Prosecuted To The Fullest Extent of the Law,Punished,Tried,Indicted In A Court Of Law And Locked Up In
Jail Permantly To Crack Down On MArijuana In Missouri Pernamtly Now. i Stand My Ground

Marijuana is a gateway drug to more dangerous drugs, like the heroin epidemic in St. Louis. Do we really need to legalize yet another dangerous drug to increase crime and accidents? Seriously, the moral decline of this world is really frightening. What are people thinking?

I believe the legalization and taxation of marijuana would be beneficial to Missouri. It would free up law enforcement officers to crack down on meth and heroin which are incredibly more addicting and dangerous. Economically, Missouri would benefit from the taxes as well as an increase in small businesses opening in the area. Lastly, it would eliminate the need/use of synthetic marijuana which is detrimental to anyone who smokes it. Like anything (alcohol, cigarettes, work, exercise, food,etc.), marijuana can be abused, but it's up to the user to decided when enough is enough.

I think we should wait and find out how Colorado and Washington do with reduced crime, more taxes money and health problems.

Filling prisons with non-violent drug offenders results in the release of pedophiles and rapists due to overcrowding.

So, if you're against marijuana legalization, you support pedophiles.

Smoking pot makes you lazy and stupid!

People become addicted and abuse prescribed drugs that a doctor gives them. So the point is ANYONE CAN ABUSE ANYTHING.
People have to take responsibility for their own actions. Period. The good far outweighs the bad in this scenario. Legalize and tax it - the state and country need the cash stream.

I'm a middle aged, skilled professional as well as a USN veteran. I fully support full, regulated legalization.
But we have several hurdles to leap before that happens.
To begin with the stereotype of the average user being a 'Stoner who lives in their parent's basement' is being broken as many professionals in all fields are occasional users. Next, the pharmaceutical companies are trying like hell to block and such legalization moves. They know they will lose millions when people discover marijuana use has many medicinal uses without the bizarre side effects possible with some of the so-called medicines being legally sold.
Last, we have law enforcement that has been making millions in unjustly prosecution and convection of the average user. Filling our overcrowded jails with users, when they could be emptied for real criminals.
Just like the civil and women's rights. we will overcome once these stereotypes and those who believe them die

If marijanna is needed for medical purposes then it should be a controlled drug and, filled like any other controlled drug through prescriptions filled pharmacists. Not pot dealers.

KEEP IT OUT OF THE HANDS OF CHILDREN 1-21 YEARS OF AGE

Hmmmm...what broke the back of organized crime in the 1980s? Legalized gambling. Meanwhile, politicians tax and generate income out of legalized gambling and create a new set of problems - promising that the legal gambling funds would go to education. Well they go to education, in the form of state grants that support everything but the kids - mostly directed at teachers and unions. For example, in Chicago - gambling revenue offsets the immense employee benefit deficit. Still it is not enough.

Legalize marijuana? Same as above - the economic benefits will increase gov't bureacracy spending.

However, unlike some of the above comments - substantial studies/research from nations that have engaged in longtitudenal studies - both single and double trials proves that maryjane has a negative effect on growing adolescent brains.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/aug/27/cannabis-damaging-under-18s-study

Lung Cancer increases according to the French:
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/healthy_kids/Can-Marijuana-Prevent-Cancer.html
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2012/jun/07/marijuana_discord_french_left

But then when politicians want to game more votes and spend more money - its an issue that sends many to the polls to vote for it - like in Colorado and Wisconsin. Who the heck cares about the vulnerable when it comes to voting time.

First of all I just want to say anyone who classifys marijuana as a drug is stupid. Drugs are man made. Addiction is all mental and if someone can't control there thought's that's on them. Some people need Marijuana for health problems, Other's stress. I personally smoke illeagally because my bone's ache all the time and smoking Marijuana relives all my pain. Relaxes my body so that I may sleep. It's a plant and God made all nature correct? The bible state's that they were smoking opiuts. If he didn't want us to smoke it he wouldn't have put it here. Marijuana is a medicine from earth. Leagalize it and Tax it. Maybe we can get this country outta debt and go after the real drugs, Meth, Crack cocain, Molly, Acid, DMT, 2CP, Harrion, Black tar harrion, and anyother man made drugs. Get off people's ass about a natrual plant and go after the real criminals. I stand my grand. God Bless.

In answer to your question, Missouri will never legalize pot, not in a million years.

Years ago all you got was a pot ticket if the police caught you. It was about as serious as jay walking. Now they want to cart you off to jail and you spend a fortune on lawyers and court costs. Legalize it. You will create jobs for the farmers and will somewhat regulate the price and quality and the state will get sales tax just like they do for cigarettes and beer. It is a natural substance like tobacco not a manufactured drug. However, Missouri is backwards and super conservative so I doubt that legalization will happen anytime soon. It will be interesting to follow how things go in Colorado and Washington.

I'm going to say this, most of what I am reading above is inaccurate. Gateway drug is any drug, prescription, alcohol, cigs, etc...that doesn't mean we will fall victim to other drugs, that depends on the person. When I was in college I made better grades while smoking MJ and when I stopped, my grades dropped...all that crap about your brain is a myth and no studies have shown bad effects on your heart...look at Willie Nelson AND I'd rather be in a room with a bunch of mellow folks rather than drunk folks OR driving on the road for that matter. Maybe people should Google the reason why it was made illegal in the first place......

R Kohn, YOU ARE SO RIGHT!

Rick Halfacre...you'd be surprised how many function in society every single day and work a full-time job...they're on the roads everyday....

Comments have been deleted for promoting illegal activity.

Hell no to legal pot in Missouri, Ok in Illinois because they are a bunch of heathen
Democrats.

What kills me is in today's society there are a lot of drug dealers out there. Some specifically sell just weed. In stl there are many killings for drug deal gone wrong. Or people getting robbed and killed because they are known to have a large amounts in their home. If they make it legal I'm sure they will see a large decrease in the amount of killings because it will put the dealers out of business. I'm sure that dealer won't have better then what will be put on the shelf for purchase. I don't believe the numbers of users will increase massively. Legal or non-legal if one wants to use it they will weather able to be purchased at a store or from a house around the corner. What gets me is acholol is legal which in the event of that how many deaths arises from acholol. Millions and still counting. From car accidents #1 reason, then to acholol poisoning, liver failure, and dong just plain stupid things that resulted in death. If they was to legalize then that will create a lot of jobs, save a lot of people failing drug that due to usage and be able to work, tax will help with the state income, relieve jails of petty arrests. Some tend to forget that weed is a plant with no additives of man made chemicals. But the same people who object the matter are probable the ones who go home from work and have a drink.

You know what people that don't smoke POT shut the hell up because your really don't know how pot effect people n it don't make people stupid n I'm living proof I smoked it while going to school n I made all a's n b's. so quit your winning n as far as pot accidents hahaha try another excuse n if u eat the seed it restores ur memory I know that for a fact!n as it being classified as a gate way drug well I got something to say to u on that note shut the hell up u don't know what ur talking about n shove it up ur ass for as us POT HEADS cares

1) What is the definition of "Recreational".
Driving under Drug use subjected to "murder" charges , if you "Pot and "drive.
and kill anyone while in an accident.
How's that for some Pot use control.

Of course, it's your body. I could care less about what you smoke, drink, or eat.
After all, Drinking is also a "recreational" substance.
Yet, over 50,000 annually "maimed" or Killed with that "recreation product"
Now that's some sport that could use a better "helmet".