We use cookies for certain features and to improve your experience. See our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy to learn more

Leafly

Shop legal, local weed.

Open
advertise on Leafly
ShopDeliveryDispensariesDealsStrainsBrandsProductsCBDDoctorsCannabis 101Social impact
  • Sign in
  • Create account
  • Strains
  • Shop
  • Shop
  • Delivery
  • Deals
  • Dispensaries
  • CBD Stores
  • Brands
  • Products
  • Learn
  • Cannabis 101
  • News
  • Leafly Learn
  • Science of cannabis
  • Doctors
  • Social impact
  • Lab partners
  • Download the Leafly App
  • Advertise on Leafly
    • Leafly.comUSA flag
    • Leafly.caCanadian flag
    • Leafly.deGerman flag
  • Help
  • News
  • Cannabis 101
  • Growing
  • Strains & products
  • CBD
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science & tech
  • Industry
  • Reports
  • Canada
  • Podcasts
  • Leafly Lists
Politics

Missouri judge blocks attempt to kick legalization off ballot

Max Savage LevensonPublished on September 12, 2022 · Last updated September 13, 2022
green map of Missouri against yellow background
(AdobeStock)

Update: On Tuesday, Sept. 13, the Missouri State Supreme Court rejected an appeal of the lower court’s decision (discussed below) to dismiss the lawsuit challenging the appearance of a statewide legalization measure on the ballot. Missouri voters will now decide the issue for themselves at the voting booth on Nov. 8.

On Friday, Sept. 9, opponents of Missouri’s adult-use cannabis initiative suffered a major setback when a state judge rejected their lawsuit to remove the measure from the November ballot.

The lawsuit, led by an anti-drug activist named Joy Sweeney—with support from the Protect Our Kids PAC—made claims regarding both the initiative itself and the state’s process of counting and validating the signatures gathered earlier this year to place it on the ballot.

Find legal cannabis near me on Leafly

For one, they claimed that the initiative—which is set to appear on the ballot as Amendment 3—violates a requirement that ballot measures only cover a single subject. Prohibitionists have successfully used this argument to kill legalization measures in South Dakota and Nebraska.

The lawsuit also accused Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft of improperly validating signatures gathered in favor of the campaign.

In his ruling, Cole County Judge Cotton Walker dismissed both accusations. Walker further ruled that Sweeney did not have sufficient evidence to prove that she actually resides in Missouri, and thus did not have legal standing to plead her case.

“Foremost, we did the right thing in certifying this measure to the ballot within the bounds of the constitution and the laws passed by the general assembly,” Ashcroft said in a statement following the ruling. “We followed the law — we did everything right.”

Related
Election 2022: Missouri marijuana legalization guide

John Payne, who led the Legal Missouri legalization campaign, celebrated the news. “We are thrilled that Missourians will have the opportunity to pass Amendment 3 in November, which will allow law enforcement to better focus on violent crime, while bringing millions in new revenue to Missouri,” Payne said in a statement.

The battle to put (and keep) legalization on the Missouri ballot ain’t over yet, though.

Sweeney’s legal team immediately filed an appeal to the ruling. For one, they claim they have evidence that Sweeny is in fact a Missouri resident.

The clock is ticking, however: Missouri officials must make a final decision by this Tuesday, September 13.

Shop highly rated dispensaries near you

Showing you dispensaries near
See all dispensaries
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • See all dispensaries
See all dispensaries
adult-use cannabisadult-use legalizationballot measureslawsuitmissourivoting
Max Savage Levenson
Max Savage Levenson
Max Savage Levenson likely has the lowest cannabis tolerance of any writer on the cannabis beat. He also writes about music for Pitchfork, Bandcamp and other bespectacled folk. He co-hosts The Hash podcast. His dream interview is Tyler the Creator.
View Max Savage Levenson's articles

The latest in Politics

  • Ohioans must activate to defend cannabis freedoms from lawmakers image
    Ohioans must activate to defend cannabis freedoms from lawmakers
    David Downs
  • Montanans must activate to protect legalization in 2025 image
    Montanans must activate to protect legalization in 2025
    David Downs
  • Analysis: Don’t hold your breath for legalization under Trump 2.0 image
    Analysis: Don’t hold your breath for legalization under Trump 2.0
    David Downs
  • These states could legalize cannabis in 2025 image
    These states could legalize cannabis in 2025
    Max Savage Levenson
Get good reads, local deals, and strain spotlights delivered right to your inbox.

By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.



Stay In Touch

Receive updates on new products, special offers, and industry news.

Something went wrong, please try again.

By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Leafly mobile app
Get high for less.
Download the Leafly app.
Download Leafly: Marijuana Reviews on the App StoreDownload Leafly Marijuana Reviews on Google Play

Business Solutions
  • List your store
  • List your CBD store
  • List your brand
  • List your practice
  • Business log in

About Leafly
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Investor relations
  • Contact us
  • FAQs
  • Accessibility

Dispensaries in
  • Los Angeles
  • Seattle
  • Portland
  • San Francisco
  • Toronto
  • Detroit

Privacy & Terms
  • Terms of use
  • Commercial terms of use
  • Privacy policy
  • Do not sell my personal information

* Statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Information provided by this website or this company is not a substitute for individual medical advice.


© 2025 Leafly, LLC
Leafly and the Leafly logo are registered trademarks of Leafly, LLC. All Rights Reserved.