The Missouri General Assembly just introduced HB 277, which would allow seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana pursuant to a physician’s recommendation.
Similar legislation has been introduced in the past, but has yet to be given the attention it deserves. It’s time for Missouri lawmakers to put party differences aside and pass HB 277 for the sake of the patients who need it. This is not a partisan issue; it’s a compassion issue. Many otherwise illegal substances, such as OxyContin and morphine, are legally prescribed by doctors every day. Marijuana is less addictive than either of these substances and has never caused a single medically documented overdose death — unlike Tylenol, which causes about 500 overdose deaths a year in the U.S. alone.
When they have their doctors’ approval, patients should be able to use medical marijuana without fear of arrest and imprisonment. They should also be able to rely on a safe supply of marijuana without having to resort to the dangerous and unreliable criminal market.
Medical marijuana laws are sensible, compassionate, and supported by people from all sides of the political spectrum. It’s time for Missouri to have an open, honest discussion about this issue. I encourage our legislators to do just that.
Kelly Maddy
Joplin
