The fight over medicinal marijuana in Missouri is heading to court.Supporters of a campaign to approve marijuana for medicinal purposes are fighting to get on the November ballot after their petition drive fell short.The group learned last week that they didn’t qualify for the ballot after having enough signatures in five of Missouri’s eight Congressional districts. To qualify, they needed six districts.The court challenge centers on the 2nd Congressional District in St. Louis, where the campaign fell about 2,200 signatures short.In a lawsuit, a Columbia woman and New Approach Missouri, the group behind the medicinal marijuana campaign, said local authorities improperly rejected valid signatures of legal voters.The group is suing Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, the state’s top election official, who is also running for the United States Senate.A campaign spokeswoman said Kander does not comment on the merits of an initiative petition while it is being litigated in the courts with his office.Supporters of the medical marijuana effort said they hope to get the issue resolved by late September.Colorado legalized marijuana for medicinal and recreational uses in 2014. An Aurora, Colorado, resident told KMBC 9 News that she hasn’t noticed much difference.“As a taxpayer, I think we’re getting more money out of it,” she said.25 states and Washington, D.C., have all passed laws allowing some marijuana use.

The fight over medicinal marijuana in Missouri is heading to court.



Supporters of a campaign to approve marijuana for medicinal purposes are fighting to get on the November ballot after their petition drive fell short.




The group learned last week that they didn’t qualify for the ballot after having enough signatures in five of Missouri’s eight Congressional districts. To qualify, they needed six districts.



The court challenge centers on the 2nd Congressional District in St. Louis, where the campaign fell about 2,200 signatures short.



In a lawsuit, a Columbia woman and New Approach Missouri, the group behind the medicinal marijuana campaign, said local authorities improperly rejected valid signatures of legal voters.



The group is suing Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, the state’s top election official, who is also running for the United States Senate.



A campaign spokeswoman said Kander does not comment on the merits of an initiative petition while it is being litigated in the courts with his office.



Supporters of the medical marijuana effort said they hope to get the issue resolved by late September.



Colorado legalized marijuana for medicinal and recreational uses in 2014. An Aurora, Colorado, resident told KMBC 9 News that she hasn’t noticed much difference.



“As a taxpayer, I think we’re getting more money out of it,” she said.



25 states and Washington, D.C., have all passed laws allowing some marijuana use.

