Mizzou Students Throw Support Behind Medical Pot Initiative: 'It's Just a Plant'
*By Carlo Versano*
On Tuesday, Missouri could become the 32nd state in the U.S. to legalize medical marijuana.
On the ballot are three proposals on the issue ー regarding regulation, taxation, and the distribution of tax revenues. The amendments are byzantine and confusing, but if one passes, medical marijuana will become the law of the land in the "Show-Me" State.
Cannabis legalization has garnered more public support in recent years, and medical pot is often thought to be the gateway to fuller legalization. While the Missouri medical community is [split](https://kcmedicine.org/survey-results-physician-attitudes-medical-marijuana/) on the drug's medicinal value, much of the student body at the University of Missouri has a pro-legalization stance.
CheddarU went to Mizzou's campus to hear what students had to say ahead of the vote.
"I just can't see any good reason not to have it medicinally available here," said In'lana Henderson, VP of Students for Sensible Drug Policy at Mizzou.
"People think that it's very taboo here," she added.
That possibility that Missouri, a reliably red state in the country's heartland, could pass a progressive drug law, gives some students hope that the end result could galvanize public support for cannabis legalization.
"I think that if we can legalize it, it will help other states do that, too," freshman Payton Nichols-Pittman said.
Or, as senior Meg Rogers put it: "It's just something that we don't need to make people feel bad for."
She added: "It's just a plant."
Joel Birch, Co-Founder and CEO of Stacked, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he explains how his platform makes it easy for users to manage their crypto assets and elaborates on why he believes the price of Bitcoin will bounce back in a big way.
Lisa Whalen, Automotive and Mobility Analyst at Morning Consult, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to break down the famed auto show's emphasis on electric vehicles this year, reflecting a shift toward electrification in the automotive industry.
Wes Schroll, CEO and Founder of Fetch Rewards, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he explains how his company is helping save shoppers money and discusses how he plans to grow the company with $240 million in new funding.
On this episode of ChedHER, Amira Rasool, CEO and Founder of The Folklore, discusses her $1.7 million pre-seed funding round and why she's being intentional about the investors she's working with; Brittany Merrill-Yeng, co-founder Skrewball Whiskey, reveals the origins of Skrewball Whisky, experiencing a period of rapid growth, and navigating a male-dominated industry; Suz Hernandez, Owner of MamaP, breaks down how her company is combining eco-friendly and sustainable products with a mission to donate to non-profits that help people and the planet.
On this episode of ChedHER: CEO of The Lactation Network breaks down how they are expanding access to lactation support for families nationwide; CEO of Vanta explains the importance of a security team for startups; Midwest Divison Area Manager at JPMorgan Chase discusses the perks of having a business mentor.
