8/17/11: Missouri Group Wants to Make Pot Legal

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Missouri is the latest state to be faced with an effort to legalize the sale and use of marijuana. A newly formed group calling itself “Show-Me Cannabis” is seeking passage of either a constitutional amendment or a new state law that would decriminalize possession and use of marijuana for any purpose by residents 21 and older.

Show-Me Cannabis, which claims marijuana is safer than table sugar, has submitted proposed petitions to Secretary of State Robin Carnahan for certification from her office.

Dave Duncan, a spokesman for the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, said he’s “very concerned that a movement like this would go even further to give a message to our kids that this is a safe, harmless drug when in fact it’s not.” He calls marijuana a gateway to use of more serious drugs.